I wasn’t born great/
but I was born of greatness./
Riley pedigree.
Author: Kirby P.
Half man. Half amazing. Half math genius. Blah blah.
Monday in a Picture – Inspiration from Mother and others
Everyday before I leave my house, this is what I see. It’s important to stay motivated and inspired while serving. People have sent postcards, greeting cards, and letters from all over the world during my time in Swaziland. I’m extremely grateful to all of those who have taken the time to write kind words and send them to me.
To make my house feel more homey, I added pictures of those responsible for my being to the inspiration wall. They include my great grandfather, his daughter (my grandmother), and her daughter (my mother). It was on this day seven years ago that my mother passed away. She’s actually (partially) responsible for my serving in the Peace Corps. She pushed us to serve others with compassion. She instilled a sense of exploration. She made sure that we respected and embraced those who might be different from us.
Having these visual reminders has been great for keeping me motivated in the rural community. It makes my service feel a little less lonely.
Be kind to yourself.
Onward.
#GloPoWriMo 16/30: Inspiration
Inspiration is/
even needed by those who/
inspire others.
#GloPoWriMo 15/30: Dance
She dances with the wind.
She is connection.
Connecting us.
Equal parts global,
and local.
Maybe God is in the ocean.
Maybe God is the ocean,
A trinity turned quartet.
She will speak,
if you listen.
She will love,
without conditions.
She doesn’t charge the surfer
for the wave.
Just happy he got his surfs up.
She caresses the shoreline,
Melodic and sweet.
Millions of miles.
Smiling on those
who visit.
Loving those
who need it.
Keeping the
secrets of the ocean talkers
She dances.
She is the tide.
#GloPoWriMo 14/30: Come
Come as you are.
As long as you come like us.
Be like us
if you want
to be with us.
Monopoly on Jesus.
This is the way.
Say as we say.
Do as we do.
Be whoever
you desire to be.
Just don’t
be you.
The gatekeepers
of goodness.
Only the great
can come in.
Be my judge.
Or be my friend.
But you can’t be both.
#GloPoWriMo 13/30: Nude
He who is nude is/
not always naked. Which parts/
of me do you see?
#GloPoWriMo 12/30: Them
They will question your/
life’s decisions because they/
are afraid to live.
#GloPoWriMo 11/30: Improved
If faith in humanity
could be single handedly
restored,
it would be
because of you.
A breath of fresh air.
Full bodied,
green leafy trees
in the Springtime.
You are
the perfect day
in all seasons.
You are
Miss Bliss
even when I don’t need to be
saved by the bell.
I breathe better.
I am better
because you exist.
#GloPoWriMo 10/30: The Fruit
He stares at me
intently.
Studying my being.
He knows
something is different.
That I’m not like them.
That I’m not like him.
He hears in my accent
that this
is not my home.
To be surrounded
but be alone.
Told that
I’m not African
enough.
Not Black
enough.
If it’s us versus them,
I was sure
that I was us.
But I’m not.
Not enough
for the exclusive.
Our ancestors
could have been neighbors,
and this ain’t neighborly.
I am not the enemy.
We
have much more in common.
Perhaps our differences
aren’t that different.
The same tree
planted elsewhere.
We are
similar fruit.
Monday in a Picture – Sports Day
The school year in Swaziland is divided into three terms. During the first term (which we’re currently in), high school students participate in sports. There is special time set aside for athletics. Some schools compete against other schools. At my school, the students compete against other grade levels. The students compete in soccer, volleyball, and netball.
Recently, our school hosted a series of sports days. The teaching schedules were pushed aside in favor sporting event schedules. When students and fellow teachers asked if I would be playing, I told them that I was unsure. On the actual day, there was tremendous encouragement for me to play netball. The teachers’ team needed players. I informed them that I didn’t know how to play. In true Swazi fashion, several teachers responded that it wasn’t a problem and that I would learn.
I was told that netball is very similar to basketball. That’s true, as there is a ball and a basket. Imagine ultimate frisbee played on a basketball court. You have to put the ball in the basket (no backboard included) instead of putting it in the endzone. There are distinct positions on a netball team.
In our first match, I played the position of Wing Defender. This position plays opposite of the Wing Attacker. I was responsible for stopping the advancement of the ball. I had to learn that netball is not supposed to be a contact sport. Old habits die hard. In our second match, I played the position of Goal Scorer. This position plays opposite of the Goal Keeper. As a Goal Scorer, I was responsible for scoring the goals (i.e, putting the ball in the basket). I learned that I’m not really good at this position. We lost both games.
Be kind to yourself.
Onward.
P.S. – Last week, Peace Corps Stories featured one of my blog posts! Tell your friends.
What is Kirby Doing?: Stories from life after Peace Corps eSwatini 