WIN! IN YOUR LANE

I remember my early days of driving. Boy was I excited to be able to go wherever I dreamt of, without worrying whether my destination was on a bus route or not. I felt free. But within me was a deep fear.

I was terribly afraid of huge vehicles; bus liners, trucks, 4×4’s, just anything bigger than me! So, driving on the old Kafue Road in my city, Lusaka, was a nightmare. To me, the road was the definition of a death trap! The lanes were invisible, speeds were high, traffic was a constant and pot holes lined the road like adornments, lethal ones!! I constantly dreaded being involved in a head on collision. Somehow, I convinced myself that the other guy just would not stay in his lane, after all, the road markings had disappeared! I feared that it was just a matter of time before some guy would veer off his lane, get into mine and boom…the end!

It was in the midst of one of those ugly conversations in my head that a little whisper resonated so loudly within, “If you just stay in your lane, you will be okay! Actually, if everyone stays in their own lane, you will hardly have any accidents.” Suddenly, I was smiling with that reassurance. But then as quickly as I had smiled, I was back to being low in my ugly conversation. “What if I faithfully stay in my lane but the other guy gets into mine?” The thought freaked me out. But then, quickly, gently and most assuringly, the whisper again, “Don’t worry about the other guy! Just focus on your lane.”

It’s a brand new year! Purpose to focus on your lane this year! Yes you have made your list and perhaps even your goal sheet is intact and ready for execution. But go back to that list. And right at the top, insert these few words…FOCUS ON AND STAY IN MY LANE! Actually, fix these words somewhere in the middle and right at the bottom of your list too. You need constant reminding! I have found that in your lane, it is less exhausting. Because you are running a race you were cut out for. There is grace specifically for you. Don’t be secretly staring out of your lane Anakadzi, that’s how you cause accidents! Ulunkumbwa (envy) is part of staring out your lane. Bring your eyes back. Focus. Its okay to even talk to yourself and say “Penjani watampa (you’re at it again)! Behave!!” Insert your name there. Its too much energy trying to live life in a lane you were not cut out for.

Arise Anakadzi! Run your own race. Focus your eyes on your own lane. When you fix your eyes on your own lane, you’ll find that its clear in front of you. In your lane there is room for you. In your lane there is space, to run at your pace, to sprint if you must, to slow down if you need to, and yes to even lie down to catch a breathe, then to get up and go again! If we all stay in our lane, the chances of crashes are reduced, massively!

This year, embrace your lane. Run in it. Stay in it.

You will win, in your lane!

Written by Penjani Deborah Ng’uni