Positive Quote For Today

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."— Maya Angelou


Inspiring Mottoes

A True Story
by
Copyright ©
Picture related to the title of the story
This is the classic crest of Starehe Boys' Centre, my Alma Mater. The crest is one of the things that inspired me most during my years in Starehe.

I love reading mottoes of learning institutions, churches and nations because of the immense wisdom they carry. And I try to practice that wisdom in my day-to-day living. Let me share with you, my dear reader, the mottoes that have inspired me most and some reflections on how we can apply them in our lives.

First is the motto of Starehe Boys' Centre: Natulenge Juu (Let Us Aim High) that is beautifully engraved on the school's crest which is one of the things that inspired me most during my years in the school as I have pointed out in the caption of the crest photo above. I love the motto because it resonates with my ambitious nature that I have possessed for as long as I can remember.

Second is the motto of Rose of Sharon Academy in Nairobi where I taught piano for a year in 2015. The academy's motto reads: Nurturing Excellence in Spirit, Wisdom and Grace. It is borrowed from a verse in the book of Luke in the Bible. A wonderful motto, isn't it?

Third is the motto of Harvard College: Ve ri tas (Verity and Truth). I have tried to apply that motto in every area of my life which explains why I am always truthful in what I say and write. So even though I was rejected at Harvard College in the two times I applied for undergraduate admission, I am glad to be living the Harvard motto.

Fourth is the motto of Patrick Henry College: For Christ and For Liberty. I love that motto because it resonates with my belief in Christ and in respect for other people's faith: be they Muslims, Buddhists or atheists. And that explains why even though I believe deeply in the Bible, I have never tried to impose my beliefs on anyone.

Fifth is the motto of Liberty University: Knowledge Aflame. I have been inspired by that motto to acquire knowledge by reading, reflecting, socializing and listening to music as well as by occassionally watching movies and sports. Talk of keeping knowledge aflame.

Sixth is the motto of the United States which is poetically well-stated in her national anthem as follows:
Then conquer we must,
When our cause it is just;
And this be our motto:
"In God is our trust"...
So much do I love those lines of the United States anthem and their accompanying melody that I usually find myself singing them out loud when walking and showering. And that's why I trust in God a lot these days.

Last but not least is the motto of the Scout Movement: Be Prepared. I try to follow the motto by dressing well even when going to buy something in a nearby kiosk because I never know: I may meet my soulmate! That's why I also read regularly, why I carry three business cards in my wallet and why I am always striving to nurture my strength of spirit to shield me in sudden misfortunes such as the loss of a loved one. I advise you to be prepared as well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sharing is Caring

Like the above story? Then share it on:
Facebook icon X icon LinkedIn icon

Scoring in Life

A True Story
by Thuita J. Maina
on Dec 4, 2016
Copyright ©
Picture related to the title of the story
This is me in 2006 showing a software program on 2006/07 English Premier League fixtures to Hon. Raphael Tuju, the then Rarieda MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during my days at Starehe Institute. Looking on was Eng. Patrick Obath, the then Kenya Shell/BP Managing Director.

When I wrote in my previous story on this blog about my wonderful experiences at Starehe Institute, I forgot to say that I also watched soccer, especially the 2006 FIFA World Cup. I found it exciting to look forward to matches though I don't think my intention for watching them was to get enough tales to tell my friends.

Of the numerous world-class soccer players that I got to know back then, there was one who, to my mind, stood out from the crowd. That was Ronaldinho de Gaucho.

I admired Ronaldinho not only for his dribbling skills but also for his charisma and trademark grin. He seemed to be in love with the game as some other players frowned on the pitch. So much did I admire him that I put a picture of him on the home window of a software program I developed on the 2006 World Cup soccer fixtures.

And when the World Cup began in June that year, I strongly rooted for Brazil which had a talented and experienced attacking combo of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. But alas! The team was sent packing after a quarter-final loss to France following a surprise goal by Thierry Henry. Watching Brazil lose made me so heartsick that I was unable to attend church the following day.

Although I no longer watch live soccer matches, I still love Ronaldinho who has long since retired from playing professional soccer. I occasionally watch videos I downloaded from the internet of him in action in his heyday during which he won La Liga and Champions League with FC Barcelona, Copa America as well as the FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup with Brazil - the benchmarks of a truly remarkable soccer career.

Ronaldinho was an exceptional soccer player for shizzle. To the best of my knowledge, only Ronaldo (of Brazil) and Zinedine Zidane can rival him in their range of soccer achievements. I stand to be corrected.

From my love of watching soccer matches, I gleaned one lesson about the game: that the performance of a soccer team is not judged by how well it plays but by how many goals it scores. A star-studded team can play well by dribbling skilfully and making clever passes but if it fails to score, it is no better than that of lousy players.

After reflecting on that lesson, I have discovered that life, too, is like a soccer game in that we have to score on the important aspects of life such as love, peace, health and wealth if we are truly to be remarkable. If we try to live well by eating healthily, reading regularly and exercising physically but still struggle with low self-esteem, loneliness, poverty and hatred, then we are no better than alcoholics.

Let us therefore endeavor to score on those important aspects of life: love, peace, health and wealth, especially love. It's my belief that if we strive to love God, ourselves and what we do, then we will start scoring well in life like FC Barcelona's current prolific attacking combo of Messi, Suarez and Neymar.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sharing is Caring

Like the above story? Then share it on:
Facebook icon X icon LinkedIn icon
← Newer Stories  ||   Older Stories →

Connect With Me

Do you want to get regular updates of new stories and videos on this blog? Then connect with me on:
Facebook iconFacebook
X iconX
LinkedIn iconLinkedIn
Goodreads iconGoodreads
RSS Feed iconRSS Feed
WhatsApp iconWhatsApp


Latest Stories

Reading Widely & Wisely
on December 12, 2024

Part 2: Telling the Truth
on December 07, 2024

Growing Through Challenges
on December 02, 2024

Bible Quote

"Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do... Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand."

~Phillipians 4:4-7 (TLB)

About the Author

Name: Thuita J. Maina
Nationality: Kenyan
Lives in: Kiserian, Rift Valley, Kenya
Mission: To inspire the world to godly living, one person at a time.

Just For Laughs

There was this drunkard named Azoge who loved drinking at Josiah's Bar. On being told a certain Hon. Nanga was flying to America to be conferred a law degree so that he could be admitted to the bar, Azoge replied, "Why fly all the way to America to be admitted to the bar while you can get into Josiah's Bar any time?"



The 7 Deadly Sins

  1. Pride
  2. Envy
  3. Gluttony
  4. Lust
  5. Anger
  6. Greed
  7. Sloth

Author's Note

I am learning to treat life as a journey, not a destination. So I am trying to enjoy each day as I anticipate to fulfill my dreams especially meeting my soulmate and traveling abroad. Tomorrow may never be mine.

Fun Facts

  1. The fear of having no cell-phone service, running out of battery, or losing sight of your phone is called Nomophobia, reportedly affecting 66% of people.
  2. A single Google search needs more computing power than it took to send Apollo 11 to the moon. The Apollo computer was less equipped than a modern toaster.
  3. Besides being some of the biggest names in the tech industry, HP, Apple, Google and Microsoft share another commonality. They all started in garages.
~Extracted from Codingforums.com

Health Tip

So many of us take for granted the wonderful construction of the human body and the workings of its various parts. Some of us even expect it to function efficiently with less than the minimum care and attention. Learn the much you can about your body and how the care of it can help to give you that greatest blessing of all - good health.


Wonders of the Modern World

  1. The Simplon Tunnel
  2. The Sky-scrapers of New York
  3. The Boulder Dam of Colorado
  4. The Panama Canal
  5. The Golden Gate Bridge
  6. The Taj Mahal at Agra in India
  7. The North Sea Oil Drilling Rigs

Great Example for Politicians

"My life in politics was a joy. I loved campaigns and I loved governing. I always tried to keep things moving in the right direction, to give more people a chance to live their dreams, to lift people's spirits, and to bring them together. That's the way I kept score."

~Bill Clinton

Scientific Marvels

  1. Space travel
  2. Heart surgery
  3. Fibre-optics communication
  4. Concorde
  5. Computers & Radios
  6. Anesthetics
  7. The atom bomb

My Supreme Desire

Although I'd like to be rich and famous, my supreme desire is to be radiant: to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm courage and goodwill. I wish to live without hate, guilt, worry, jealousy, cynicism and envy. I wish to be honest, natural, confident, clean in mind and body - ready to say "I do not know" if it be so and to treat all men with kindness - to meet any loss, failure, criticism and rejection unabashed and unafraid.



Greatest American Presidents

  1. Abraham Lincoln
  2. George Washington
  3. Thomas Jefferson
  4. Franklin Roosevelt
  5. Theodore Roosevelt
  6. Woodrow Wilson
  7. Andrew Jackson

Making Peace With the Past

"Dwell not on your past. Use it to illustrate a point, then leave it behind. Nothing really matters except what you do now in this instant of time. From this moment onwards you can be an entirely different person, filled with love and understanding, ready with an outstretched hand, uplifted and positive in every thought and deed."

~Eileen Caddy

Toughest Colleges to Get Into

  1. MIT
  2. Princeton
  3. Harvard
  4. Yale
  5. Stanford
  6. Brown
  7. Columbia

Why You Should Trust God

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities and pour out peace."

~Ezra Taft Benson

The 7 Greatest Scientists

  1. Albert Einstein
  2. Isaac Newton
  3. Galileo Galilei
  4. Nikola Tesla
  5. Aristotle
  6. Archimedes
  7. Charles Darwin

You Matter

"Always be yourself. Never try to hide who you are. The only shame is to have shame. Always stand up for what you believe in. Always question what other people tell you. Never regret the past; it's a waste of time. There's a reason for everything. Every mistake, every moment of weakness, every terrible thing that has happened to you, grow from it. The only way you can ever get the respect of others is when you show them that you respect yourself and most importantly, do your thing and never apologize for being you."

~Unknown

The Most Industrialized Nations

  1. United States
  2. Japan
  3. Germany
  4. France
  5. United Kingdom
  6. Italy
  7. Canada

Keys to Success

"...in his effort to withstand temptation, to economize, to exercise thrift, to disregard the superficial for the real - the shadow for the substance; to be great yet small, in his effort to be patient in the laying of a firm foundation; to so grow in skill and knowledge that he shall place his services in demand by reason of his intrinsic and superior worth. This is the key that unlocks every door of opportunity, and all others fail."

~Booker T. Washington

The 7 Social Sins

  1. Politics without principle
  2. Wealth without work
  3. Pleasure without conscience
  4. Knowledge without character
  5. Commerce without morality
  6. Worship without sacrifice
  7. Science without humanity

Cherish What You Love

"Cherish your visions, cherish your ideals, cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts - for out of them will grow all heavenly environment, of these if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built."~James Allen

The World's Largest Cities

  1. London in England
  2. New York in the United States
  3. Tokyo in Japan
  4. Berlin in Germany
  5. Chicago in the United States
  6. Shanghai in China
  7. Paris in France

Benefits of Optimism

"In terms of success, optimistic people out perform their pessimistic colleagues. Research shows that they are consistently promoted higher and make more money while working fewer hours than those who think pessimistically. Optimists also contribute more significantly to social progress. It is the optimists who start and run successful companies, who win elections and carry out reforms, and who make breakthroughs in the realms of science and technology."

~Pepe Minambo

The World's Greatest Lakes

  1. Caspian Sea in the Commonwealth of Independent States, C.I.S. (formerly U.S.S.R)
  2. Lake Superior in North America
  3. Victoria Nyanza in Central Africa
  4. Aral Sea in C.I.S.
  5. Lake Huron in North America
  6. Lake Michigan in North America

Demonstrating His Love

"Take your communication for instance - the way you address others. It ought to be with loving, gracious and edifying words. Never talk people down. Never use words that hurt and demean people. Communicate excellently with others without destroying their self-image or making them feel sorry for themselves. Talk to people in a way that they never forget the excellence of your words, the love and grace of Christ that you communicated. It's how God wants us to love."

~Dr. Chris Oyakhilome

World's Longest Rivers

  1. Missouri-Mississipi (U.S.)
  2. Amazon (Brazil)
  3. Nile (Egypt)
  4. Yangtse (China)
  5. Lena (Russia)
  6. Zaire (Central Africa)
  7. Niger (West Africa)