Njeri's Mind Out Wild

To every single woman — Happy #IWD26 🌸 What an incredible blessing it is to be a woman. With all the challenges and vulnerabilities that come with it, we are still called to show up fully. Often, we are not only solving the problems of the world, but carrying the weight of it all — many times quietly, and sometimes while being overlooked. So many capable women wrestle with self-doubt. Near misses. Opportunities we thought we had but slipped away. Moments of trying to fit in while feeling completely out of place. And yet, look at us. When we look back, we realize just how far we have come. Today, women are occupying tables and rooms we once could only dream about. Are we fully there? Not yet. Are we equally represented? Not yet. But you — yes, you — are the woman inspiring the next generation of girls. Girls who will one day speak about the doors you opened for them, even if you don’t realize it yet. May the confidence of Wangu wa Makeri, the eloquence of Maya Angelou, the courage of ...

As I reflect on my 12-year journey across various sectors— including private sector (from real estate, PR agencies, hospitality, consultancy), non-profit, and now government— I've gathered invaluable insights that I wish I had known at the start of my career.  Mind you, it took me a while to land a permanent job that I was reffered to as a professional volunteer. I am eternally grateful because volunteering shaped me. In my first 'real' job, I was featured on Parents Magazine Africa- Phenomenal Women- "Don't sit waiting for a job, volunteer and doors will open". I was a very young woman in a managerial position in a real estate company then. Doors did open, and I pray they stay open.  Each experience has shaped my perspective, and I'm eager to share these lessons in the hopes that they resonate with those just starting on their professional paths. I am a work in progress and enthusiastic about the future. So, before diving into my insights, I urge everyone...

How did you end up in Turkana??? I get this question a looot! I guess many ask this because of the preconceived biases based on what they have either watched on telly or heard. It's a simple lack of exposure to the beauty of Turkana. If anything, I encourage questions about Turkana so people can learn. It's either that (free) or you come visit (learn). So.... My name is Esther Mwangi, and yes I am from Turkana. To make it short, my Dad came to Turkana 54 years ago as an Accounting Clerk. Mum followed 11 years later. The two have together made a name for themselves and have become a great part of the community. That means, I was born, bred, educated, and nourished at the heart of Turkana in Lodwar. I did not end up here, this is home. A selfie of me in a full Turkana regalia. Many know Turkana for its climatic condition, and being sorrounded by three countries comes with its challenges, and that may be the other reason we are known for. Hey, we have our challenges but, allo...

"Disability is not about people's impairments, instead, it's about barriers across people with different impairments" . Dr. Harun Hassan, Director, National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD- Kenya) 4th Annual Inclusive Africa Conference  hosted by inABLE Did you know that an estimated 15% of the African population (1.4 Billion) is living with a disability? That's almost 220 million people who continue to face social, physical, and online barriers on a daily basis. Yet, many of these disabilities go undiagnosed or untreated, resulting in individuals struggling to understand their differences and navigating a world that isn't always accommodating. An image showing different neurodivergent disabilities was downloaded from  Pinterest . In this disability awareness month series, I'd like to focus on undiagnosed neurodivergent disabilities and embracing newly diagnosed disabilities in adults. Neurodivergent disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, dyscalc...

Hello, October is not only my birthday month, it is also a special month dedicated to advocating for disability employment awareness and the need to provide inclusive workspaces and sensitize employees on being patient and accommodating without prejudice and ableism practices. In short, this month is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment that values the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities. I don't think this is a coincidence, I believe I have been called to be a disability inclusion advocate. 15% of the global population has some form of disability, which makes about 220 million Africans with disabilities ( World Bank ). While there has been some progress, we are still far from fulfilling what we are all called to achieve by Goal 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG ) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which all focus on ensuring equal opportunity and reduced inequalities for all. It is vital to reflect on ways w...

As published on June 15, 2023 on Nation Newspaper by myself. https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/blogs/pwd-inclusion-should-not-be-mere-rhetoric-4266598

So, I got published on the Nation newspaper talking about why we should be radical about designing inclusive policies for persons with disabilities. Here's the back story. The last four months from February 2023 till early June have been quite a roller coaster of activities for me. I have been the busiest I have ever been planning the 4th Annual Inclusive Africa Conference that happened from May 29 - 31, 2023 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi. Over 900 participants joined virtually, 649 people joined via watch parties in 15 African countries and over 300 people in Nairobi. It was a massive success, and it proves getting better every year.  As you may already know, I am definitely a workaholic, and I don't leave any stones unturned when I'm working on something, and as the Project Manager for The Inclusive Africa Conference, my biggest job was to make sure we had an amazing conference, and so, I dived! I must admit, I lost myself and had a few health hiccups but all is go...

Image by Pixabay  Finding love later in life can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience. For some people, they may have gone through a divorce or the end of a long-term relationship, while others may have never been in a serious relationship before. No matter the circumstances, finding love later in life is not just possible, it's beautiful in so many ways– and finding the right person for you is natural. When looking for a partner later in life, it's important to take your time and not rush into anything. You've likely gone through a lot of life experiences by this point, and you know what you want and don't want in a relationship. Use this knowledge to your advantage, and don't settle for someone who doesn't meet your standards or make you happy. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't be afraid to be honest about what you're looking for. It's also important to keep an open mind when it comes to dating later in life. It's easy to get ...

I don't know what they told you, but put yourself first. How you love yourself teaches others how to love you. So, for you to love others, it means your cup has to run over, in essence, what's in the cup is yours, and the bit that runs over is for the other people. To put it in perspective, you can't pour from an empty cup, you got to have something to share with the world.  Photo Credit: www.letgetgoing.com It's difficult to put yourself first sometimes, but it's essential. Taking care of yourself first means setting boundaries and limiting distractions so you can better focus on what's important (e.g. your work, your relationships, your health).  It can also mean setting aside time for yourself each day to do what you enjoy – whether that's going for a walk, catching up on your reading, or simply taking some time for yourself to relax.  Putting yourself first isn't always easy, but it's worth it if you want to be successful and happy.

 Well, I've been feeling overwhelmed, underwhelmed, and just unbalanced over a couple of months but mostly these past week. All the reasons why I feel the way I feel point to one thing- mental exhaustion. I am brain fatigued from all the over thinking, mini panic attacks and just overall worry about the future.  I like being in charge of everything that happens to me, so this need for control and perfection doesn't help people pleasing attributes and gets a bunch of me. This doesn't get better with the kind of work environment I have, which is mentally draining but my love for my job keeps pushing me to be and do better. I must confess I am a workaholic, it would make sense with a friendly work environment but being in charge of putting out fores comes with some mental strain. So, I know I am not  alone. I knows st of us are going through these phases silently, lonely, and desperately. So, here's some tips to help you get through and achieve a balance in your mental hea...

 Yes, you read that right?  I swear the image of someone who'd contact cholera was very different in my mind until 5 days ago when the Lab results came positive for Cholera aaaaand H-pylori. I mean.... Like come on? So, I did have a rough end of the week this last week that lead to my admission at Coptic Hospital. Never self medicate BTW! I almost lost myself to self medication with over-the-counter drugs. I made a mistake and ate food from the vendors who supply to our office more than once last week. If you know me, you know how much I love to cook but last week we got do busy, so it was easier to eat from caterers.  I went to check out the venue for my upcoming event, it's big, so I needed to meet the planning team and agree on the floorplan on Tuesday. That night once I was home, I was so weak and I could tell I had a fever I took some pain medz and slept and woke up the next day early for work. It was until Wednesday afternoon after an amazing partner meeting that I ...

Hear me, hear ye!  If the answer is yes to these 5 questions below, stay on. Here's how to know it's not your job that you have a problem with, rather your boss and his or her leadership skills or lack of it.  Does your boss constantly gaslight you? Is your boss quick to blame you and less likely to recognize your talents? Do you feel like your boss is competing with you? Does your boss use belittling comments to refer to you or your work? Has your boss ever thrown you under the bus for something you did not do? Caption: An image of an abstract demoralized human So many times, very skilled, committed, and talented employees leave their jobs and not because they did not like what they do, but rather because the boss is just impossible to work with. Overtime, due to financial reasons and need to survive, people will tolerate unworthy leadership. Such employees usually leave immediately they are triggered enough and they never look back. As they should! But, of what benefit is it...

I've had pretty beautiful birthday celebrations! But, nothing tops this one yet! It was a multi-event birthday! So here we go! The first event, I'll keep with me forever! My office planned an all day fun-trip for Thika Primary School for the Blind Grade 6 students. I told my colleague, I want in and that's all I needed for my birthday. I needed something meaningful, so I checked off my photoshoot birthday celebration to spend time with these kids. A beautiful sunny Saturday morning, I took a cab to the Giraffe center to meet the kids and their teachers. Of course I arrived late coz I couldn't decide what to wear! But finally there I was- in an oversized white shirt and black shorts. I was in such high spirits, met the kids as they were leaving a lecture where the professional was explaining all about giraffes. I'm hugging everyone as I'm familiar with most of these kids and some of their teachers. We head to where the giraffes were, and we're handed pellets ...

So.., if you follow me on social media, you're already aware I had been hospitalized for about 4 days last week. From simple tonsillitis symptoms to being admitted with Grade 4 Tonsillitis! I didn't even know they had grades! But, all I know is they were so huge that I couldn't eat, talk or swallow anything!  A photo of me holding a bouquet of flowers in bed. After 4 days of over the counter medication, I kept getting worse by day until that last night when I was weak, freezing, and fever was up the roof! I gathered everything in me to get up, get dressed warm enough including hoodie and a trench coat, and called an Uber! I knew I had to be in hospital or something bad would happen in 20 minutes or less! I was so weak, and remember, I couldn't speak so at the hospital, I just pointed to the Tonsillitis, signed I couldn't speak, tossed my health insurance on the table, and the nurse helped me to a Doctor's office where I was immediately admitted in the casualty w...

Hello there... So, last time I talked to you, I shared I was too lazy to fall in love or meet people. Well, I have some updates... Allow me to digress for a bit... I promise you the updates has not been forced upon me, but I feel I need to share context of why relationships can impact how you take criticism differently based on whether they come from a place of love, curiosity, or ridicule! I have a very lovely relationship between my Mum, sister, and I. Booooy! When I tell you they bring the need to change my relationship status, they come swinging, it's always all love and reassurance, so I'd never take it as pressure. I can't even begin to tell you how hard my bestie has been trying to set me up on dates. We'll see! 😅 That being said, the last year has been an experiential kind. I've been stepping out of my comfort zone and into the dating pool. I even tried online dating and met a couple of interesting guys... Interesting is the key word here.  I have attempted...

I write this with my laptop seated on my lap at 10% I am too lazy to reach out to the charger Photo: Courtesy The charger that is just a reach away I must admit I am too lazy I am too lazy to reach out Too lazy to reach out to my feelings I am too lazy to search within my heart I am too lazy to get out of my head I am too lazy to fall in love!   I am too lazy to work so hard for the unlikely Too lazy to invest in heartbreaks and divorce Too lazy to believe in a happy ending Too lazy to see past the 21st century trend Too lazy to see that mine may be different Too lazy to love the wrong one Too lazy to lend my heart to a crash landing Too lazy to be vulnerable Too lazy to lift the hammer and break my walls Too lazy to fall in love!   I am too lazy to try Too lazy to meet new guys Too lazy to dress up for dates Too lazy to reimagine long-term Too lazy to see love differently Too lazy to sort genuine from fake Too lazy to try to...

When you have been single for too long, you become very comfortable and okay with your space; doing things by yourself and whenever you want to. You can make very random decisions such as traveling out of the country or changing jobs. You become very choosy with whom you let in and protective over those you love because you know what it is like when pain takes charge. If you still don’t get it, let me paint a picture for you through Suzan’s love life. Suzan has been single for many years now and has almost forgotten what love feels like. Her past relationships left her scarred for life and scared her of dating. She now loves from a safe distance and once in a while flirts with the good looking guys who seem interested just to keep the fire burning. The real reason, however, is she would rather love from a distance than be vulnerable again on her way to a broken heart. She puts up a strong show and portrays a very strong personality outside which most times scares the bad boys awa...