.

We all have that one thing (or several things) that stresses us; sometimes we have a good reason for it,  other times not. Maggie’s DIY shamelessly and hilariously talks about a stress factor that’s been constant throughout her 40 years of life… and it’s not even about to change.

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Social discrimination and Unemployment

People don’t talk enough about how much a person’s financial struggles impact on their relationships (family, friends, etc)… how much our societies lose interest and worth in someone who seems to be financially struggling…

Do any of you have an uncle (or relative) that asked / asks for your CV/Resume or any other details so they could assist you? And they has everyone believing that they were helping you/ or your loved ones out of a difficult situation- only for it to end in premium tears? Well, cry with me here… get infuriated as you listen to this…. but I hope you can learn something from this. I pray for everyone going through tough times.

My Unemployment Woes

It is said that tough times build character or what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT! What I know is that some seasons in life be excruciating trying, painful and breaking…

As if my adulthood hadn’t kicked off on a bad note already, I had close to a decade of ‘tarmacking and struggling… May the world be kind to people who are facing difficulties… This is part of the 40@40 series. It’s a 10 parts sub-series on my decade-long unemployment.

My Unemployment Woes

Some situations in life can make and leave you feeling a certain type of way, doubting yourself… …………………… This is a heavy one… Viewer Discretion advised

My First Drive in my New Car (40@40) | Maggie’s DIY

Buying my First Car at 40

This was a beautiful one… to the this old and to buy this now –

Some life stories are beautiful to re-live and to tell.

Below are the previous two videos too.

Talk about tension, especially when you are many and are scaring each other more… wueh!

Some life stories are funny, when you think about it later on, not during the experience itself.

Every person has a story. Everyone has a life journey that is unique no matter how similar we think it is to someone else’s.

Welcome to Un-Tell,

I am Maggie’s DIY. 40@40 feature’s Maggie’s DIY life experiences and lessons in the last 40 years as she turns 40 years old.

This Playlist comprises 40+videos; one video premiering daily from 23.12.2022 to February 2023.

Viewer Discretion is advised on some videos (a warning comes up before the video premiers).

This is one life journey; a roller coaster of highs and lows, ups and downs

40@40: KaWambui Nikarathie Kambi

Videos in this 40@40 Series:

• Videos in this 40@40 Series:

  1. 40@40 : Intro
  2. 40@40 : Public Opinion
  3. 40@40 : Nobody Turn 40
  4. 40@40 : Craziest thing ever done
  5. 40@40 : KaWambui Nikarathie Kambi
  6. 40@40 : Own Your Story

  7 – 12. 40@40 :First Time (first time of different things)

  13. 40@40: That Time (trigger warning- viewer discretion advised)
  14. 40@40: One thing that’s making my days (sequel to video 13)
  15. 40@40 : Things I know for sure after achieving something that was never on the table for me
  16. 40@40 : Life Seasons that make you feel A CERTAIN TYPE OF WAY
  17. 40@40 : My experience with Google Maps (2 videos)

  18.1 – 26) 40@40 :My Unemployment Woes (11 videos)

  27.1- 27.3 . 40@40 : Things that irrationally stress me

  28- 29 Crazy- Fun stories

  30 – suddenly learning something

  31- 38 Catching Up (why I needed to catch up, what I was catching up with/on)

  39: Live a little???? When people say

  Ziplining peer pressure and hanging in the middle of the zipline

  41: Things I can do now. Things I can’t do. (Cans and Can’ts)

  42 – 43: Then and Now (leave, vacation, life…)

  44- 50: Life Lessons: Life is going to life, managing social anxiety, not my cup of tea, Hujafa Hujaumbika, life summary/ our societies and death!

  #40@40, #MaggiesDIY, #UnTellStories, #UnTell, #LifeCoach, #MaggiesDIYLifeCoach, #LifewithMaggiesDIY, #UnTell, #KaWambuiNikarathieKambi, #CatchingUp, #Unemploymentwoes, #lifelessons, #ThenandNow, #NobodyTurn40, #ACertainTypeofWay, #MyGoogleMapsExperience, #publicopinion, #CraziestThingEverDone, #FirstTime, #DrivingTest, #FirstCar, #FirstDrive, #CallCenter, #SocialDiscrimination, #food

   

  Maggie’s DIY Platforms

  • Website: Un-Tell.com
  • LinkedIn: Njuguna Maggie
  • Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok (Un-Tell by Maggie’s DIY)
  • Email: Maggie@Un-Tell.com
  • My Amazon eBooks: search using Un-Tell by Maggie’s DIY

#40@40, #MaggiesDIY, #UnTellStories, #LifeCoach, #MaggiesDIYLifeCoach, #LifewithMaggiesDIY, #UnTell, #KaWambuiNikarathieKambi, #CatchingUp, #Unemploymentwoes, #lifelessons, #ThenandNow, #NobodyTurn40, #ACertainTypeofWay, #MyGoogleMapsExperience, #publicopinion, #CraziestThingEverDone, #FirstTime, Social Discrimination, #CallCenter, #food

The post Food and I (PART 1): Things that irrationally stress Maggie’s DIY | 40@40 appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.

Causes of Procrastination:

1. Self-fulfilling prophesy/ Limiting Beliefs,
2. Impostor Syndrome
3. Shiny Object Syndrome
4. Perfectionism
5. Hyperactivity/ Multitasking,
6. Fear of Public Opinion
7. Lack of Goals
8. Attention Span
9. Belief in Unlimited Resources

Here is a link to all the Playlists, including How to Overcome Procrastination, Beat Procrastination / Stop Procrastination if you need a quick overview of what this channel is about: https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1

The post Causes of Procrastination. #9 Perfectionism and Procrastination appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.

1. Self-fulfilling prophesy/ Limiting Beliefs,
2. Impostor Syndrome
3. Shiny Object Syndrome
4. Perfectionism
5. Hyperactivity/ Multitasking,
6. Fear of Public Opinion
7. Lack of Goals
8. Attention Span
9. Belief in Unlimited Resources

Here is a link to all the Playlists, including How to Overcome Procrastination, Beat Procrastination / Stop Procrastination if you need a quick overview of what this channel is about: https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1

The post Causes of Procrastination. #7 Shiny Object Syndrome appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.

1. Self-fulfilling prophesy/ Limiting Beliefs,
2. Impostor Syndrome
3. Shiny Object Syndrome
4. Perfectionism
5. Hyperactivity/ Multitasking,
6. Fear of Public Opinion
7. Lack of Goals
8. Attention Span
9. Belief in Unlimited Resources

Here is a link to all the Playlists, including How to Overcome Procrastination, Beat Procrastination / Stop Procrastination if you need a quick overview of what this channel is about: https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1

The post Causes of Procrastination. #5 Hyperactivity / Multitasking  appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.

1. Self-fulfilling prophesy/ Limiting Beliefs,
2. Impostor Syndrome
3. Shiny Object Syndrome
4. Perfectionism
5. Hyperactivity/ Multitasking,
6. Fear of Public Opinion
7. Lack of Goals
8. Attention Span
9. Belief in Unlimited Resources

Here is a link to all the Playlists if you need a quick overview of what this channel is about: https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1

This video digs deep into Procrastination.

• What it is
• What it is Not
• Causes (9 Causes of procrastination are listed further below together with the video links – available on Un-Tell Stories by Maggie’s DIY)
• How to Overcome Procrastination / Stop Procrastination / Beat Procrastination (multiple solutions are available for each of the causes of procrastination mentioned above). All the links to the videos are available further below – after the causes of procrastination

Causes of Procrastination and Links

1. Causes of Procrastination. 1. Limiting Beliefs / Self Fulfilling Prophesy – https://youtu.be/TX1l4AL65b4
2. Causes of Procrastination. 2. Impostor Syndrome – https://youtu.be/adv7G06MUXc
3. Causes of Procrastination. Lack of Clarity of Goals and Means to the Goal – https://youtu.be/dxduYcLheMY
4. Causes of Procrastination. Fear of Public Opinion (FOPO) – https://youtu.be/drHANNABzWA
5. Causes of Procrastination. Hyperactivity – https://youtu.be/2zCKFIg9Q1Y
6. Causes of Procrastination. 6. Low Attention Span/ Concentration Span – https://youtu.be/1gtjH4OcqcY
7. Causes of Procrastination. 7. Shiny Object Syndrome – https://youtu.be/d3M76u4Tebs
8. Causes of Procrastination. 8. Belief in Inexhaustible/ non-depletable resources/ time – https://youtu.be/NXJhYCsJtsI
9. Causes of Procrastination. 9. Perfectionism – https://youtu.be/D_PR6YwzDN0

How to Overcome Procrastination / Stop Procrastination / Beat Procrastination

Teaser/ promo: Is a summary of the content in the videos that address solutions to OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION – https://youtu.be/v3CtTKO4K8Q

If you want to watch the Full videos with all the solutions to OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION, HERE IS THE LINK –  – https://youtu.be/jENF7qd6gKw

1. 11 1 introducing SOLUTIONS TO OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION and recap previous videos – https://youtu.be/YiMTJvxP9mk

TEASER/ PROMO – One size fits all Solution for Overcoming Procrastination: Make a Plan that Works / Strategic Planning

If you want to watch the video of solutions to Overcome Procrastination in three parts here are the links

2. Part 1: Solutions to Overcome Procrastination (for causes of Procrastination 1-4) – https://youtu.be/8RyAqSCzX2k

• Part 1: Solutions to Overcome Procrastination (for causes of procrastination 5-8) – https://youtu.be/lXXTVZcTn5I
• One General Solution to Overcome Solution regardless of the cause – https://youtu.be/-ooLZi6Lolw (Teaser/ Promo) – The series will upload in September 2020)

If you want to want to watch solutions to OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION by specific causes, here are the links:

1. Overcome Procrastination. by Overcoming Limiting Beliefs / Self Fulfilling Prophesy / Self Sabotage –  – https://youtu.be/jcjSwwP0NhY
2. Overcome Procrastination. By. Overcoming Self Doubt and Impostor Syndrome – – https://youtu.be/UBlggyF1S2k
3. Overcome Procrastination. Define Goals and Vision – https://youtu.be/maGsXRf5VFE
4. Overcome Procrastination. Overcome Fear of Public Opinion – https://youtu.be/lz63euyYlgM
5. Overcome Procrastination. Task Management and Time Management to Manage Hyperactivity – https://youtu.be/7jb-3NbCFhs
6. Overcome Procrastination. Manage Low Attention Span – – https://youtu.be/IyE4jHDj118
7. Overcome Procrastination. How to Stop the Shiny Object Syndrome – https://youtu.be/TIjN0pCwdKk
8. Overcome Procrastination. Reality Check – https://youtu.be/Pq0nSrX8MgU
9. Overcome Procrastination. Perfectionism and Procrastination

NOTE: How to Make a Plan that Works / Strategic Planning

1. The Series on How to Make a Plan that Works / How to Set Goals and Achieve Them / Strategic Planning will be uploaded in every Thursday in September 2020.
2. The Series will be uploaded in the Playlist – here is the link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWdGvDIwikz2FF10z5uONX2Z Here is a Teaser/ Promo video – https://youtu.be/-ooLZi6Lolw
3. This Series ( Strategic Planning / How to Make a Plan that Works ) will be uploaded in four parts.

• How to come up with your Vision / Life Goals – VISION
• How to define the parameters that satisfy your vision / goal
• What ideas/ activities can help you achieve the parameters of your vision, hence your end goal (Output)
• The specific steps you need to take, starting from the most basic and simplest, to achieve your goal (Input)

OTHER SERIES on This Channel: Un-Tell Stories by Maggie’s DIY.

Below are the Playlists and their Links

1. Personal Development / Personal Growth and Self Improvement https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWfc5DBcZN231C3yoB0gf3kq
2. Self-Fulfilling Prophesy: What it is and what it is not, Two causes of Self-Fulfilling prophesy, personal self-fulfilling prophesy and Imposed self-fulfilling prophesy, etc. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWe1N5PiZ6cGACLtYAtQIbCK
3. Impostor Syndrome – will have an indepth look at the Impostor Syndrome. All the videos will be uploaded on this Channel’s Playlist “Impostor Syndrome. Here is the link to that Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWdIPij0g_lVcUSQBPsu5Wa3 The playlist will look at the origin of Impostor Syndrome, cause of impostor syndrome, how to overcome Impostor Syndrome, How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome…
4. Personality Types / Personalities / Self Awareness – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWfInJnPJaGgbV-D77fH6tMl
5. Procrastination / Causes of Procrastination / Overcome Procrastination – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWcDY-9rkMz3-n-cDLlmfwru
6. Stereotypes – The series on Stereotypes will have multiple videos uploaded on the Stereotypes Playlist on Un-Tell Stories by Maggie’s DIY YouTube Channel. How Stereotypes impose the Impostor syndrome and limiting beliefs on us
7. Shiny Object Syndrome – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWfx0jDVI3an6Wg0xTQx3YfS
8. Public Opinion / Fear of Public Opinion, Fear of Success, Fear of Failure – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWdEe35728-UvhB76Fq9wrIZ
9. Toxic Competition/ Unhealthy – competition based on making the other parties look bad – negative comparisons: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWdGBNcvTm6qTsE5PIhwBkBS
10. Privilege and Underprivilege – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWfY4xuonLy1nFBHM6T22Fzb
11. Self Care / Self Help / Self Improvement – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWf58AraatCizqn-FXzpRlfT
12. Un-Tell Random Stories – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpUbkt4G7rWeo2Q5rwzW0zdTk2mUqn2if
13. Check for additional videos/ playlists here – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4Fm6DF0krqEBPCa06FpvA/playlists – https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1

The post Self-Fulfilling Prophesy – Limiting Beliefs appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.

We would ‘cross our little hearts and hope to die’ as we promised our siblings and cousins that they could share with us a few grains of their roasted maize grains, and that, in turn, we would refund the same once we got ours in the next hour or tomorrow. The next hour or tomorrow was always disastrous as children wailed over broken promises. Some children wailed because the children who had eaten their roasted maize grains yesterday had now refused to pay up. Other children wailed because they felt cheated; having to pay up. Of course, there were lawyers and middlemen/women (call that middle children who facilitated the deals), and they expected their payment too.

Don’t even think of judging us. If you have ever had the aroma of roasted maize hit your nose, then you know what I am talking about? If you have ever tasted roasted maize, whether spiced ere added or not, then you know what I am talking about. These things are heaven on earth. You could forget your name. You could be promised anything as a trade off and still refuse; just so you can enjoy the grilled maize delicacy. You could easily overlook any terms and conditions just so you can enjoy the delicacy of roasted maize in peace.

Ha! In my experience, roasted maize is the only one that doesn’t have class. You will see big men with big tummies and suits enjoying their roasted maize in the streets. You will see slay queens (you know the ones that have to hold everything with two fingers and who walk on air) enjoying their delicacy of roasted maize in the streets without any fear of losing their status. You will see anyone pretty much enjoying their roasted maize; it is probably the only thing that most people can really relate with others. Ni matter who you are, whenever you pass by the mahindi choma guy/ girl, your nose turns and you have absolute respect for the maize. Whenever you see someone enjoying their roasted maize, whether you think you belong to the same class or not, you will instantly feel the taste of grains of roasted maize on his/ her tongue.

Back to our Roasted Maize Scandal

So, here we were crying over broken promises of the roasted maize debts. Let me tell you how this started.

If you grew up in the 80 or 90s (grew any other time in a rural setting, with siblings/ cousins), then you probably can relate to this.

At Home With Parents

See, all my childhood, it was just my brother and I as children. Our adorable kid sister was born as we approached teenagehood. Mum did not entertain trading of barter trade at home because we had more than enough, and because trading would always end up with screaming and wailing. And then we would both get an ass-whooping.

At our Grandparents’ Home

The story was different when we went to visit our grandparents over the school holidays. Our grandfather has three wives, and each of them had 5+ children. That means that we, the grandchildren, were countless. Over the holidays, our grandmothers (who had their houses scattered in the vast compound) would be busy preparing the evening meals on the open three-stoned fire, as they roasted maize or potatoes for us. We would, in the meantime be house-hopping from one grandmother’s house to the other in the dark. Squealing, laughing, and shrieking when we scared each other.

The Making of the Roasted Maize Scandal

As soon as a single maize cob was fully roasted, one of our grandmothers would split it into as many parts as possible and divide it amongst some of us, with the promise that the next one would be given to the children who didn’t get round one. Sounds good, right?

Children can be impatient and greedy – even poor feeders like ourselves who did not like food. You would have thought that those of us who didn’t get Round 1 would have to wait all our lifetimes for Round 2. Thankfully, we had brains and were not afraid to use them.

Deals were made. Deals were agreed on. Deals were executed.

We would wink at each other in the dim light that crackling burning wood provided, and assuming that our grandmothers did not see us, we would move away from the open fire and make our little deals. The children who got round one would agree to share with the rest of us in the promise that when we got ours, we would repay the debt.

“give me a few grains, and I will repay you when my round is up”.

Terms and Conditions: Accept and Proceed. I agree

We were wise or we had trust issues. The deals were not executed until every condition was clear. We had witnesses too.

Okay, How many grains do you want?”

All of them.

Absolutely not.

Okay, 10 grains.

Fine.

And I want the biggest grains. I also want the ones that look golden brown.

No deal. I will give you a mix.

Witness: Let’s do this. You shell all the grains, then close your eyes and pick. Whatever you pick is what you get.

Child 1 and Child 2: That sounds good. We agree.

The roasted grains would be shelled and placed on a plate or the earthen floor. Before the roasted maize grains changed hands, there were a few clarifications to be made

Child 1: “you promise that you will repay me when you get yours?

Child 2: I promise.

Pinky Promise?

Yes. come on. Let’s do this.

Witness(es): we all hear that.

Child 1: You promise that you will repay the number of grains, size, shape and colour?

The Story continues

Child 2: (already salivating), “Yes. Yes.”

And the deal would be made. Children would start playing as they all enjoyed their grains of roasted day.

Savoring the Taste of the Roasted Maize: A Moment of Silence Please  )

Image Enjoying Food

We would savor the taste of each of roasted maize grain for as long as we could.

First, we would salt it, just a little. Then we would put it in our tiny mouths and swirl it around the mouth until the salt taste was gone. We would then, crush the each grain slowly (with our mouths closed) and then open the mouth just a bit in rapid succession so that the aroma of the roasted maize could hit our nostrils. Oh, what heaven we lived in. We would then shut our mouths and continue chewing until there was nothing to chew; then we would swallow.

Eating action done and thoroughly enjoyed.

Judgment Day: Payment Day

Tears, tears and more tears. Now I know why mum didn’t allow such shady deals. They always ended up in tears.

Soon, Round 2 roasted maize would be ready and our grandmothers would make the announcements. Round 2 children would be escorted like sheep to a slaughter house to our grannies lest they changed their mind and run away with our portions or tried some other explanation.

The children who had given their grains of roasted maize in Round 1 were present to collect. The children who had received a loan from Round 1 would now start shelling the roasted maize grains from the maize cob while everyone else watched.

Witnesses were present.

The witnesses were there to ensure that the debts were repaid. That all the terms and conditions were adhered to; the exact number of roasted maize grains; the size of each grain; the color of each grain. Well, the fine print details really. Of course, being impatient, we would have forgotten to pay attention to the fine print details if were receiving the grains earlier that day but the Round 1 children and witnesses would have paid attention at time. In the first round, the borrowers would quickly click Agree and Proceed or Accept Terms and Conditions so we could get the maize and enjoy the delicacy.

Hey, not paying attention to details while others do is a recipe for disaster for the agreement. Of course, disagreements were bound to happen when the deals were being settled.

Remember the Terms and Conditions that some of us had accepted without paying attention? Boy, weren’t they back to haunt us? You also remember that because there was no electricity, we were using the lighting from the burning firewood; we would get someone to sneak and pull a burning piece of firewood for better lighting as we settled our debts. We couldn’t go do the deals infront of our grannies now, could we?

Anyway, the lighting and witnesses would ensure that the correct number of grains, in their size and colour were repaid back to the owner.

Deals Gone Bad: Two things would happen:

Image: Deals Gone Bad

The children who owed any number of grains of roasted maize would refuse to pay up; the children who felt cheated would throw tantrums. The children who owed would pay up but feel cheated – as if they didn’t enjoy other children’s portions, hence throw a tantrum. We were so many kids; there was bound to be disagreements that even the witnesses (some were corrupt too) tried to enforce the Terms and Conditions.

One thing I know is that we all, as many as we are, inherited our grandfather’s strong vocals. The screaming and wailing that ensued when was deals went bad was insane.

We would part ways as enemies as groups of children sneaked into their biological grandmothers’ hut and were served supper. We would then go to sleep. Tomorrow we would wake up having forgotten yesterday’s disaster and ready for other crazy fun.

School Holidays In Mombasa – The Photo Beating

Some of the holidays, we would spend with our dad in Mombasa where we had as much crazy fun as we had in the rural Nyahururu.

Other times, we played dangerously and lost teeth

Catch up on this and other escapades in My Life Untold (1): Wild Childhood in the 80s and 90s on Amazon (Coming Soon) or on www.un-tell.com

The post Cheeky Childhood Games: Lots of Laughter and Tears appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.

When we were convinced we looked photo-worthy, we would run all the way from home to the photographer’s studio. The photographers had these small studios/ cubicles with broad sheets that had imprinted images. We would pose as they took our photos. We would try various photo-worthy styles such as holding our sachet of peanuts close to our mouths or pretending to be astronauts.

It would take the photographers several days to process the analog photos from their negatives/ film. We called it ‘washing the photos’. On the material day, when the photographer had promised the photos would be ready, we would eagerly go pick our two copies of one photo and a film negative. Allow me to answer that question that is forming in your mind – yes I have x-ray vision so I can see the question forming in your brain -; no we didn’t (I don’t think the world had) have digital cameras…

The rest of the chapter are in my first book that will be published in July or August 2020.

Subscribe to this Website to be notified when the book launches; Get Your FREE COPY

The post The Good Old Days: Photo Beating and Photo-Washing appeared first on Un-Tell by Maggie's DIY.