Remembering the Good

It has dawned on me that most of us tend to remember the bad things that have happened to us. We dwell on our past mistakes, on the foolish deeds we did and on the wrongs that others did to us. Those kinds of memories leave in their wake feelings of guilt and bitterness in our souls, thus depriving us of the joy we need to enjoy the present.

Of late, I have been thinking that perhaps we'd all be happier if we focused on the good things that happened to us in the past instead of dwelling on the bad. I don't know about you but for me, I have had quite a number of good breaks and great moments that are worth relishing. Allow me to tell you about four of such good breaks and the great moments they engendered.

The first good break I'll tell you about happened in the year 2000 when I was transferred to a private primary school called Kunoni Educational Centre. I consider being transferred to Kunoni a good break because it gave me an opportunity to learn alongside bright pupils from well-off families and to be tutored by a team of dedicated teachers who made a lasting difference to my intellectual prowess.

During my days at Kunoni, I worked fanatically hard in my studies. I used to rise as early as 5.00 a.m. and head to school where I'd do some reading before other pupils reported to school. And in the evenings when I got back home, I'd do my homework before retiring to bed. Then over the weekends, I'd do a lot of revision. Oh, how I miss those golden bygone days!

My hard work paid off because I excelled in the 2001 KCPE exams and got into Starehe Boys' Centre - the then top-ranked high school in Kenya. Getting into Starehe was another good break; it boosted my confidence and self-esteem. I recall with relish how proud I felt to be a Starehian in my first months in the school.

At Starehe, I schooled with brilliant students from all corners of our republic. I had to read a lot so as to beat those brilliant students in academics. As a result of my efforts, I rose from the bottom rung of my class to score an 'A' in the national secondary exams known as KCSE. Believe me, scoring an 'A' in those exams was no mean achievement.

Besides excelling in academics, the other noteworthy achievements I had in my high school years at Starehe were learning how to play volleyball, giving speeches during evening assemblies and accompanying the whole school on the piano during major functions. I must have been a gifted pianist because in 2004, I emerged as the third best student in the advanced category of the Kenya Music Festival piano-playing competition.

After I finished high school in November 2005, I joined Starehe Institute to pursue a diploma in information technology. And joining Starehe Institute was the next good break that happened to me, for it was in that institute that I acquired the web design and computer programming skills that have wonderfully enriched my life. The institute also gave me opportunities to develop my piano-playing and public speaking skills. It was during my time there that I sat for my Grade 4 & 5 piano exams.

Perhaps most important, it was during my time in Starehe Institute that I developed some of my life philosophies. One of the philosophies is that true learning should be intellectually and emotionally arousing. I arrived at that philosophy after realizing most of us drill facts into our minds without questioning them, and we call that learning. But true learning, as I have said, should be intellectually and emotionally arousing. I still believe in that philosophy.

After I left Starehe Institute in April 2007, I joined the 9.30 a.m. English service choir of All Saints' Cathedral church in Nairobi. Joining that choir was the next good break that happened to me. Not only did I form lasting friendships in the choir, I also developed a passion for hymn singing. And that passion deepened my faith in God and in the Bible as His inerrant Word.

There you have them: that is, the good breaks I have had in my life so far. As I reflected on those good breaks, I couldn't help perceive them as God directing my steps. And I have this firm belief that the same God who saw me through to Kunoni, to Starehe and to All Saints' Cathedral is still directing my steps, a belief that is helping me face the future with confidence.

My beloved reader, I challenge you to also get into the habit of remembering the good times in your past. Recall all the great things that God has done for you. As the American pastor Victoria Osteen recently said on Twitter, remembering the good will strengthen your faith in God and get you through the tough times. Adieu!

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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed the above story on remembering the good, you might also enjoy another one on "Blooming Where Planted" which I wrote about five years ago.