Recently i read a story about how former movie legend and california senator, schwazzenegger slept under the floor of his monument. This hotel made this monument when he was senator, promising that he would always have a free bed whenever he wanted. When he came however to sleep, years later, he was told they were full and had no bed space for him. Even calls to the manager could not remedy his situation so, he got a sleeping bag and slept outside on the floor of his monument.
Same thing in Uganda.When Kale Kayihura was the IGP, his phone could not go a minute without buzzing. He had people from all walks of life trying to meet him either at his office or at his home in Muyenga.
Now he is no longer the IGP, his phone goes hours without a call. When it comes it, it is probably one of the boys at his humble goat farm reporting about a disease outbreak.
And that is life. When you hold a position of power, of authority, you need to be careful not to mistake the many people calling you for your fans. When people call you, they are calling the position, they are not calling the person. When you are the Minister, they are calling that position, not you the person. The minute you leave the position, the phone calls will go away.
The same applies for other parts of life. Some people will only call you because of what you have become. It is not that they now care about you, they care about what you have and what they can get from you. The moment you cease having it or the moment they can get it from elsewhere, the calls will stop.
You thus have to be humble in life and not be blinded by many things. Victor Kamenyo calls it not to be confused by the praises, the cheers aka enduulu.
I love Pr. Wilson Bugembe's song; "Bwalikujukira." He sings that these days the people in his house come rushing to ensure his mosquito net is drawn. Then he wonders; "where were all of you when I slept on the streets?" So he sings; "meeme yanga ezo enduulu tezikulimba nga...oyo aba mukama nga yajukidde esaala zzo."
Everyone loves a finished product in life. No body is interested in you when you are in the trenches. No body is interested in the loser. Everybody wants the medal winner. Everybody will look for a way to attach themselves to the winner. They will all have a story that connects them to the winner. They will all claim to have played a part in your success. They will claim how they always believed in you.
That is why it is often said that the more you go up, the more you should humble yourself. The more money you get, the more you should simplify your life. The more you should spend your time with people that will be by your side no matter what.
People move into better positions then they start to hang around more with their other counterparts, spend less time with their kids. Then sometimes they lose those positions. And guess what, those counterparts flee. Who doesn't flee? Your children. They are gonna be there.
When a woman is too hot, every man loves her. She rejects some, accepts some. Then she fades. And wonders why no man now calls her. No body wants the faded product. Everybody jumps onto the new trending thing. You know how new a beautiful girl came into school and everyone forgot about the school slay queens. That is life.
You even see it in bars and hangouts. They come and go. Today it is this one, months later it is another one.
Everybody is gonna remember you when you succeed. I have never seen a rich man without relatives. I have never seen a rich man without friends. But here is the disclaimer and most rich men actually know it that most of those who hang around them are only doing so because they are rich. The minute the money goes, they will speed off like lightning.
Didn't Chameleone sing; "Tewamalangamu..."
Some people will only call you because they need something from you. Accept this fact and don't mistake the many phone calls for people loving you so much. Dunbar said beyond "150", everything goes astray. When you surpass 150 friends, get scared. When a company surpasses 150 employees, something strange happens.
And once you learn that in life, people only want to see you at your highlights not in yout backgrounds, you don't get fooled anymore. You begin to know that the biggest downfalls have come from the praises "wululu." Ask Rabadaba
Anyway, all that said and done, don't forget there is still some goodness in people.Humanity is not lost. Be cautious but its OK to bask in some pride and enjoyment of your efforts.
Thanks for reading . Resteem if you have liked it.