“He who earns calamity, eats it with his family” ~ African Proverb
This proverb was a great reminder that our actions and reactions are the seeds that create a harvest for our children. As humans, it may be hard to think past the moment we are in especially when that moment is emotionally charged. As a parent, we don’t have the same luxury.
As a single mom there were many times when I had too make sacrifices for the “greater good” and yes that included not giving someone a few choice words when I really wanted to. (There may have been a few slip-ups tho) It made a huge difference in the life that my children were able to live and the values that they still hold near and dear today. Many hear the word calamity and think of cartoons or big disasters but your attitude, words, and actions can be just as devastating.
Calamity – an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress, disaster
Here is what I’ve learned…
There will be moments when I can fix what was damaged and moments when I can not. If I work harder to not do the damage on the front end then I have less to repair on the back end.
~ Altovise
What is your interpretation of this #african proverb?
Meet Simon:
My name is Simon Javan Okelo. I grew up in the slums of Manyatta in Kisumu, Kenya, serving as the Field Director of Solace International and Co-Director of the Young Generation Centre from 2002-2010 where I directed humanitarian projects in Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, and South Sudan. I also worked as a DJ and producer, organizing Unite The People concerts in 2008 in the wake of post-election violence and founding One Vibe Africa.
I came to the US in 2010, and I have since organized events and digital campaigns celebrating the African diaspora locally and globally. For example, since 2014 I have organized Madaraka Festival at The Museum of POP Culture headlined by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Sauti Sol, Blitz The Ambassador, Rocky Dawuni, Meklit Hadero, Nik West, Naomi Wachira, Karun, and other renowned grammy award winning artists.
#OurVoiceMatters 