Humanist

“What a crazy logic about plastic bags. What a shame. I absolutely love my kikapu and I take it everywhere. They are so handy and cheap! And I’ve certainly had many coworkers laugh at me for it, educating me, the mzungu, and telling me that only their grandmothers still use those bags, but I go ahead and tell them that people in America would pay a lot of money for them because they are very “in.” I even bought some for my mother and sisters and they love them!” (Dani, 2015)

“You set a fantastic example here, Norah! Kindly share your supplier of bikapu?” (Kaheru, 2015)

“A stitch in time saves nine! Government of Uganda seems not to be firm with this menace going by media reports. Though NEMA Uganda has shown clout to get rid of kaveera, signals from other agencies seem to indicate otherwise, coupled with the strong business lobby. We need to make a choice to continue with this menace and forget about our soils, pay heavily for the public health related consequences; or stop kaveera now.” (Kimbowa, 2015)

These reactions are to a post titled “Economically, socially and environmentally accountable,” in which I demonstrated how Uganda can revert back to a time we were not dependent on kaveera (single use polythene bags) for shopping. CLICK HERE to read more …

I hear you wonder, what does this conversation about kikapu (carry bag made out of palm tree leaves) and accountability have to do with today’s daily writing prompt?

Here goes …

I believe that the one thing I would love changed about myself is to nurture and increase the levels of my human suspicion index. Particularly so when it comes to my tendency to give all a benefit of the doubt and prioritize beginning human relations from a position of trust.

A tendency which directly contradicts the wisdom I often share, encouraging the practice of asking the following three questions before making a decision, making a judgement, and or proffering a solution and or help:

• What are the facts?
• Why so?
• How can I help?

Essentially, I have to do more to proactively nurture my own belief in my wisdom endowment. To utilize my wisdom endowment more and not simply go with the flow, so to speak. I should stand my ground and interrogate my suspicions, instinct, if you will.

Feedback from those I know to be among those I consider wiser than I, such as those who commented on my post on kikapu, confirms my possession of a wisdom endowment. I need to convince myself of the wisdom to always cultivate my awareness of a person or people, before giving them the benefit of the doubt.

I need to do better to explore the concerns that I may have of a person and or people, before giving them a benefit of the doubt. I need to acknowledge and listen to my inner voice the more. Belief me, I have amassed plenty examples in which I dismissed my inner voice warning me and it did not end well.

I should do more to appreciate my underlying, unseen rare sense about humans when it attempts to catch my attention via my inner voice. Essentially, as I do with polythene bags.

I know I am not in the position to change and or enforce the ban of polythene bags, but I can through my actions protest it. To date, it doesn’t matter which part of Uganda I am shopping with my kikapus, the reaction is the same.

Vendors incredulous that I say to them, put the fresh produce directly in to my kikapu, no need to put them in a kaveera (single use polythene bag). I know it is not much, but it is something. Little by little, I am making a contribution, I believe.

And I am doing so, by doing that which is not the popular thing to do. So why is it I often find myself unable to apply the same wisdom of caution to humans? I need to up my suspicion index of humans and to trust my instincts.