Beyond the Chills

The world can feel like a frosty place, doesn’t it? Life’s challenges seem to be stacking up with each passing day. We, Kenyans, are acutely sensing the biting cold, down to the very last layers of our not-so-well-insulated skins.

Taxes are soaring to heights that defy reason, leaving us grappling with the chilling reality. Basic commodities now carry price tags scaling even higher than the mighty Mount Everest. To add a financial frostbite, the dollar has mercilessly surged to Ksh.164, rendering our economy against the dollar nearly worthless.

In the job market, opportunities are as scarce as water in a desert, and those few that do exist often come with meager paychecks that barely cover the essentials. Capital to kick-start our dreams is a distant mirage, making the pursuit of our aspirations feel like an uphill climb without proper gear.

Yet, in the midst of our struggles, we are unfairly branded as a generation seeking an effortless existence. It’s a label that does not resonate with the hardworking individuals among us. This is not an endorsement of laziness, rather, a plea to recognize and support those of us who are diligently striving against the odds.

Let’s acknowledge the harsh truth – our generation is not lazy, Look a little closer, stare a little longer beyond the chills. For those who tirelessly toil, I stand as an advocate. We need a respite, a breather from the relentless pressure and the judgmental gazes that surround us. Allow us the space to figure out the challenges without the burden of unnecessary stereotypes.

Times have changed, and so have the circumstances. Give us the time to adapt. While a degree of pressure is inevitable and can be motivating, let it be a healthy force that propels us forward, not a weight that drives us into the depths of depression.

It’s crucial to recognize that undue pressure and criticism have claimed the lives of many promising young individuals. Depression has become an insidious foe, leading people astray in the midst of their struggles. Let us collectively stand against this silent killer.

Guide us, support us, but do so with empathy. Spare us from the kind of pressure that can tip the balance towards despair. We need time to find our way, to carve a path through the challenges that life throws at us. Let us unite in the fight against depression, ensuring that no loved one becomes a tragic statistic of suicide simply because we failed to extend a helping hand and instead burdened them with unnecessary pressure.

Together, let’s stand against depression and build a world where the weight of life’s challenges doesn’t crush the spirit but strengthens it.

@okelododdychitchats