KNOW YOUR SELF WORTH✊🏿✊🏿

 Do you ever meet people who teach you about self worth without saying a word ? I was born to treat a janitor with the same respect as the CEO.

Back in 2014 during senior six vac, I was staying with my aunt in Gulu. She once hired a farmhand he was a young man in his early thirty. The young man was an Acholi from Purongo (let's call him James) and was employed to work at the farm. He was hired during school holiday and I was present when he came for his first day at work.

He would wake early, work in the farms. My aunt had several farms. So, he accompanied her and her other farm workers.

Now, my aunt's day starts at 4am and by noon she's done. So, afternoon you would find him (James) all washed up, neatly dressed and chilling in the garden. My aunt had several workers. Some at the house, others were cattle keepers, ground keepers, askaris etc. She hadwwwwwww an entire battalion. Each member of the battalion had their own duties.

Now, one day something happened and we needed help with the house chores. Naturally, we asked James to help. After letting us know his jurisdiction was the farm, he agreed to help. After a few days, he was asked to help with the house chores again. He agreed but not before he offered to let us know his jurisdiction ended where the farm's  fence was situated. Now, the third day he was asked to offer assistance away from the farm, he helped and that is the day he gave his resignation.

After my aunt dropped him at the bus station, I asked why James left. She responded: " yeye alikuja kazi ya shamba, hizi kazi ingine halkuwa yake!" And we went back home because such is life. She had lost a good worker and she knew it. It was a lose.

James was a deligent worker. He was good at what he did and he knew it. Also he knew how much of his time and energy he could give to his employer. I was 20 at that time and I was impressed. Man would not let anyone, not even his employer to use him however they wanted. In not so many words he taught me what it means to have self worth and to demand respect in the work place.

I see many Ugandans letting their employers walk over them because they have employed them. I see many rolling in the mud in search for job opportunity that have been already reserved for the sons of who I see people say they don't have options. So you will jump if they ask you to jump. You will drink snort if they ask you to. But in reality, people will give you respect if you respect yaself first.

Even if you apply for work as a farmhand and/or askari do not let anyone use you the way they want. They need your services or skills and without you they can't do what they will employ you to do. 

Do not let anyone shame you or abuse you just because they have the power to employ you. Most importantly, do not let anyone use ya poverty as an excuse to exploit you.

Be aJames...know ya WORTH!

#Self-worth Unapologetic Innocent