Santa Says

[Happy Holidays] Croxt:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, changes in weather, thanks global warming and price inflation; Mr. Santa couldn't show up on time this year at every door. Either way he managed to get through and sent me an email so y'all know what Santa says and what he's been up to. This is what the email says:

"I know some of you did not get a gift at all or on time, or you got something less than what you expected. I don't blame the Starbucks red cups this season or the way some of you guys don't even have a chimney. I gained some weight, I admit. & no it's not that I sneak into the fridges of the houses that have bigger ones enough to fit me. I need a new sleigh, man. The one I have been using doesn't fly high enough anymore and population increase is another thing. I've been talking with my guys at Amazon and eBay. They're doing a better job so far, all through the year and it's about time I joined the technology world while at it. So you know this is the first but definitely not last email I will be sending. I like listening to the wishes of the little children because they actually believe in the ability to make things happen. I wish they would be shown even better how to. You'll see me chilling at the mall some times and it's usually me waiting for the refills. You gotta give back occasionally. Ask me what's my best side and you'll find out it's not that greener on the other either. We all have things we need and those that need to be taken care of and right now it's like I'm hungry again. Prepare the tables and ready your stomachs. The neighbourhood smells alive and R.I.P to all the chicken that had to go out this season. The Christmas lights are flashing and all these houses are well-decorated. If I was to be in a fairytale then I was in a legendary one. Maybe a couple of more hundred times because I'd never have needed a second chance if the first one was elaborate. I know what I need to do and I'm sorry snow is yet to fall where you expected. Even on a white Christmas, I don't discriminate. Be good children and you'll find the gifts you wished for. It's unfair that I'm busiest when you are on vacation but also fair that every other time I'm just chilling counting smiles and preparing gifts for the next one. The lessons I've learned have helped me help kids to be the things they wish for. Teach them to wish and work for the best. It makes my work easy. This is what I want to do. Have you ever started preparing your Reindeer and then it started to rain dear? That sucks. But what more can I say? I'll just apologize one more time and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, 2016." 

PARTYcipation

[Straight in the Mood] Croxt:

When you are at a party; be a part of the party. Be in it or at home. Be part of the fun and part of the solution. Look, I love how you are the life of the party. It's fine by me how you always manage to steal the show. The best thing about tonight is that the DJ knows we have arrived. Another one! He knows the types of tunes we turn up to and I know he loves how we dance. How we give life to the party. The speakers are booming and it's going down. Somebody call 911 and tell them the roof is on fire. Call security and tell them we're about to have a situation. #Lituation. The ladies have their makeup well-done and they all look ready for a beautiful night. The men are full of energy and the sound of their laughter is music to your ears. Friends are reconnecting and everyone is making their peace. It's crazy. The atmosphere is turnt and it's about to be one blast of a night. The drinks are in circulation and every one is in a good mood. The bouncers outside are welcoming and the bartenders inside are charming. You can literally feel the fun. My squad turns up like individual. Whatever that means, no one else compares. And since you clearly can't beat them, feel free to join us. I love the way you dance and the way you move. It's like you're moving with me. It gets too hot some times in here and a bit sweaty. The people keep going and the DJ never tires. We know we deserve a good time and that's what we are having. No disrespect and zero discrimination. We came to light the night up and that's why I brought my lighter. To light. The night. I see the higher we go the cooler we become. You are busting some dangerous moves and it looks like I may want to join. The way we move around here is beautifully mind-blowing. Dance like you have a great point to prove. It's one of those nights where you could care but care less. You could be whoever you want with zero exaggeration. The limelight is on you and you better show us what you know. I've seen people become believers after doubting your potential. Move with the beat and let the vibes bless you. Who wants a dance? Who fancies to dance with me? It's a party and I'm making sure everybody is having a great time. If you want something let me know and in case you need anything hit me up. It's crazy we are back at this, here together again, after all we have been through. Let's make this a night to remember.

Throwbacks and Starbucks

[Some of the Stories I Tell] Croxt:

Allow me to take it back, way back to the days a sweet-cold cappuccino would take me out a while. See, it's not that I hate my sleep but some things need to be taken care of while you're still awake. Dark nights would turn into bright lights and the sunlight would usher me to sleep. With a night-shifter's attitude, you can get anything done no matter what time of day. I'll keep it subliminal and slide in your DM's. Text messages suck anyway. I'd rather you call me on my cellphone just because I like it when the hotline blings. But remember, this is way back before we had the SMS's and people would smack down the receiver if they didn't like what you were saying.. Or wanted to make clear what they were telling you. I'm not that guy with a temper to shout you down over a phone call. I know that we see things different at times. I'm calm and I never let my storms overturn other people's boats. If I was the iceberg in the Titanic movie, I would have moved out of the way. I let people be and mind my own coffee. Kids learn from our actions and I'm glad there are some things I've unlearned. I know now what's really important. If I'll disturb your peace then I'm sorry. Because I know what that means. It's important as you sit on the coffee table to stick to your own. People who want others involved in their lives with no benefit to them need to learn how not to be selfish. Yet, you can't really be of use to everyone you get a chance to meet. So, don't make it difficult for the ones you do. A trip down memory lane will take me to Kenya, unfortunately, with no Starbucks coffee shop in sight. We would make our kahawa on a firewood jiko and the soot on the sufuria would alert you on how much time you would need. The smoke from the wood gave the coffee a different taste and I wouldn't say it was the best but I miss it. The smoke would make your eyes tear, save from the fresh onions in the shamba outside. So I know how to make a couple of things from scratch. & in case you forgot, you scratch where it it itches the most. I've had soot find its way into my eyes as I prepared my morning breakfast. I still didn't close my eyes to the pain we went through. I didn't make it normal. Food left over from the previous night was a blessing in the morning so at dinner, we always remembered to save some for tomorrow. It's the thing with memories; you remember even how the cold ugali tasted. I like my coffee with a lot of milk, I won't mention how much sugar. Gratefully, enough neighbours bred enough cattle to supply the whole kijiji. So I'm sure if the stars would light up tomorrow night and the one after, the bucks I had then will not compare. I am in the mood for growth as always and if it's by this wooden coffee table that I will carve my story, then let the coffee sip inside it and make my writing legible.

Prefect wa Mtaa

[My kind of Sheng'] Kroxti:

Kuna machwom kazaa mi natambua hii mtaa na bila kukazia, vitu zingine ka hizi hukam in handy kukinuka. Nimejaribu one-two, one-two na natambua zile vitu zinawork na zile zinahitaji effort ziada zaidi. Kumaanisha naweza okolea base inahitaji msaada ama niencourage newcomer anazipitia. Kuobserve ishakuwa hobby na kulearn ikakuwa desturi. Kuna vitu enough simind na kuna zile ntapigia debe. Tried and tested. Tried and tasted. Kuna graffiti moja mbili nimeorchestrate na kuwin ni kitu siwezi mind kudemonstrate. Learn na me.. Grow na me. Mchezo mchezo hivi tutakuwa tumefika place wengine hawawezi. Jua na mwezi; we look up to. Na kila mwezi full, I look up, juu. Ju iko vile kukiumana lazma ukuwe na meno ngumu zaidi; ulimi tamu zaidi na attitude ya juu zaidi. Ambia wale wasee walilose hope na wewe hii ndo time ya kujiredeem. Uskonde msupa, uskonde kaka brazza. Hatukufundishwa poa kuwin on our own.. Ndo reason tunacopy sana. Kama unaremember fiti methali kazaa, utakumbuka ukiiga ndovu kunya utapasuka huko down. Tbh, hiyo ni tragic. Tujipende na tujue what's enough bila kujilimit. Ama ilikuwa ujue aje we ni ndovu ukiishi ka chura? I hope sikupandisii but ka unaniwahi, unaniget, tukate hii ticket tusafiri pamoja. Njia si fupi lakini tukifika utajua.

From the Queen's Diary

[What Does She Say?] Croxt:

I tore a page from the Queen's diary & this is what it said:

"This little golden maiden sits on my lap in the midst of a cloud of smoke she chose to inhale and now, wishing to be me. I am her and she is yet to be me. Her demeanour is calm and collected and sometimes I wish the pieces she's been broken into I'd collect. She'll piece it all together in due time but at the moment I'd rather she'd not. For now. Although what she seems is comfortable. A thing I admire. She sits with her friends and I see them come alive. Yet you'd never fight the feeling of great companionship. I shudder because every time they look at her, they almost see my face beneath hers. It's scary. I know am not yet ready to come out, so I hide. Beneath the surface, I've cracked a thousand times under this shell. It is her courage that drives me insane. I've been hidden for too long but her search for answers keeps bringing her closer to the truth. I'd say she's in the process of finding herself, me, which I'm not helping her with. You keep running until it's impossible to escape the claws. Because I know my worth. And I think she almost deserves it. See, she cries all things I would and laughs at the jokes that would break my ribs. She's trying. She embodies her skin, her colour, her struggles and her flaws. She's chosen to embrace herself fully and it's tempting to lean in and tell her she'll find me and that everything is going to be okay. She knows best not to believe in the lies and works on herself. Every day. To be better, to grow, to become. She is asking herself too many questions right now. Does she like this feeling of emptiness and cloudy nights? Has she fought her mind enough to believe that good lies within her? Use your imagination little one, and pretend that aeroplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars. She could really use a wish right now. To be one with me; who I am. I am her but she is yet to be me. Things take time and uncertainty wounds the heart. Good girls love good things. And she's fallen in love. The environment we find ourselves in should grow us. She should know. But I won't tell. I guess you could say that we are one and the same. They have praises for her I'd echo & in every tune she'd dance to, I'd feel her steps. In due time, we will be one. See, I am her highness. Her superior. She looks up to me for guidance, deep within her self to the pure pits of self where I thrive to rule and judge her actions. And with every move she makes, she leaves me impressed. I'd run fast a thousand miles but sure enough, she'll catch up around the corner. Every good turn deserves another."

I'm on your Team - FootbalLove

[The Name is Ditiem] Croxt:

Level the playing field and allow me to see from post to post. The ball is in our court and the only dream we have is to score the most goals and in the most beautiful fashion. Targets are reached and limits exceeded by the ones who know what they are fighting for. I am versatile in every sense and I see you might be intimidated by the chances I create. I am not looking out for myself; I stopped playing selfish when I realized we could all be the stars we ever dreamt of becoming. I will take the lead if you are a bit shy or not fully convinced yet. I understand fully why I am in this. I have seen the bigger picture and the most we could achieve. I am not trying to steal the show or claim all the light but if by it shining on me would bring you on, then I've let it. The changing rooms might be messy but the world needn't see it. They clearly should not see my anticipation or the anxiety you're dressed in. They see the game we play and cheer the goals we score. Let's not fall behind the lines to please ourselves or fight amongst ourselves to settle old scores. Those ones don't matter on the field. This is the chance to put behind our differences and claim our pot of gold. Imagination is our name and possibility our drive. We only take the chances we create so allow me to be as creative as I can. Don't try to lower my energy and don't dress me less to look better yourself. Don't compromise with what we have but challenge me for more. I could give us the world if you're not too stubborn to keep taking us back to where we started. I could grant you the wishes you always had before you met a real winner; somebody with pure intention and clear motive. A caterpillar like you deserves to fly. To butterfly. To become something I'm convinced you could. It's not going to be easy but at least we have the compass directions. Google Maps is our friend and the number of goals we score will put us on the map. Don't despair and play your part. We will make each moment count and if you ever lose faith in me; never lose the one you have in yourself. We are on the same team and it's time you stopped worrying too much about me. Let's get these goals.

You know what to Expect

[Of Paths not Taken] Croxt:

All caterpillars have the divine capability to one day become butterflies. It's chances mostly and hope and carefulness and the ability to be patient that sets it free. We are given fires we do not know how to play with and if we miss a step we walk right into them and its burning. A skillful soldier knows when to step into the battlefield and you don't call for war when you're not ready. To be skillful, practice is needed. You can never be realistic if you're not real to yourself. You dream too big and it's okay. You dress the part and it's okay. They don't believe in you yet and it's still okay. You ask yourself too many questions and it's also okay. At least you know what to expect. Nobody ever told you it was going to be easy and you've grown enough to see that it's not. Hardened hearts are like onions to me. They make me cry sometimes. Why would you break the trust you had in yourself because someone broke the one you had in them? The hardest you fight on, the brightest your butterfly wings become. It's a given but you have to earn it. Stay strong and stand your ground. Move your will beyond the horizon. To be out of reach, each step counts. You get what you expect and if it's disappointment you're afraid of, don't be disappointed in yourself. Learn to fear nothing. Learn to embrace change. Learn to grow no matter the environment. Learn to be the best version of only yourself. Yet when you dive into your possible possibilities, don't dive in too deep to lose yourself. Love yourself enough to know what's enough; without setting for less. The wings are already inside you. You just have to learn how to work them. And once the sun is out, the leaves will be expecting you to land on them. You already know what to expect.