Just The Way You Are

It could have been worse!!
By some bizarre toss of the dice
You could have been born to die
Or, if you had to live,
You could have been born into the throes
Of the abyss of utter misfortune;
A life sentence into incessant suffering.

We all wish we were much better
Than what we hitherto are,
But if you can go through today with a smile
And look forward to tomorrow with relish,
Why not go down on your knees,
Just for a few seconds, to thank the creator
For designing you just the way you are.

Oluka Benon Herbert.

Copyright ©2006 Oluka Benon Herbert.

Dressing up my thoughts with words

I was watching a movie the other day where a rock star was asked what he considered the guiding star of his life. It was only a movie but his answer to that particular question was something I took very seriously.

"In life," he said "some people get peace when the find God. In my case, I found [his wife, whose name escapes my mind]."

Hey, hang on. I know what you are thinking. But no, not yet. What that answer showed me is that people are inspired by different things. In my case, I found my calling in writing. Comparing my passion for writing to 'finding God' may be over the top, but the reality for me is that writing stirs me up in a way that very few other things in this life do.

Writing, to me, is a passion with which I have always hoped to make my humble contribution to making my country Uganda and, indeed, the world a better place. I have been passionate about writing for the better part of my not so long life; the realisation that I could use it to make some contribution, however little, in my time came during the time I spent with the man who gave me my first break in journalism; John Ogen Kevin Aliro.

From the great Kevin (RIP), I learnt that writers are not made; they are born. No matter what stands between the writer and that calling, he/she will always defy all odds and get a shot at it. The question is how, when the writer reaches the promised land, he/she uses their talent.

This blog is just one way that I will express myself. It is likely not to be anything award winning. All I want to do is think aloud; to put down my thoughts on the different things happening in my life, my country and the world. In other words, all I want to do is to dress up my thoughts with words as and when I can.

So on this weblog you will find a variety to read. It will have a bit of everything from serous analysis of political, economic and social issues in Uganda and beyond; insights into events that make news; and my random thoughts on the different issues that affect us and those that I feel very strongly about.

And, Oh! There is also my poetry!