02/05/2016
Things you DO NOT DO under the influence...
Wherether the substance is prescribed or freely imbibed, there are certain things that you should never do under the influence:
1. DO NOT drive or operate any machinery. You might lose life or limb, yours and others.
2. DO NOT sleep in an unfamiliar bed with anybody, you might wake up to a surprise.
3. DO NOT disclose your Mpesa balance or discuss how lucrative it is to sell your plot, house, fridge or shoes. Above all, DO NOT sell anything that is on you. You will need that watch or jacket tomorrow.
4. DO NOT post on any social media platform or whatsapp groups. You may not recognize the colour, grammar or meaning of your language. You may lose more than friends. Switch off WiFi and mobile data on your phone. Use it to order uber and to keep reading this message.
5. DO NOT resolve that outstanding issue with your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, siblings, family or boss. Above all, this is not the time to speak your mind or share some hometruths. You could do irreparable damage that you never intended.
6. However lucrative it may sound, DO NOT commit to any business deals with your drinking buddies. All deals, like all ladies, look sweeter under the influence.
7. However easy they may appear, DO NOT attempt any physical fits beyond walking to and from the loo, or to that uber you ordered. The on-coming vehicle is closer, faster and larger than you think. The road and swimming pool are always wider than they look. The floodwater is always more and faster than it looks. The ground is not as near as it looks from that balcony. And that lady is heavier than she looks!
8. DO NOT visit those relatives or friends you have not seen in ages (yours and theirs). They could mistake you for somebody else and be prone to dispensing instant justice. Should they invite you in, DO NOT borrow anything from their house with the genuine intention of returning or repaying. You will not.
9. In any social setting, DO NOT play Martin Luther King, Luther Vandross or Albert Einstein. What you hear is not necessarily what everybody else around you is hearing. Practice your singing and inspirational speeches in your shower when you get home, for a number of years. When the water stops singing or speaking back to you, go to your place of worship and thank God for your gift, after you dress up.
10. In the event that you have done ALL the DO NOTs above, DO NOT be too hard on yourself and withdraw from society - we, your genuine band of brothers, are a forgiving lot (but you have probably tested us already).
We welcome and assist those who wake up (no pun intended) to the realisation that a different path would be more fulfilling. Let me share a quote from somebody you are familiar with, for different reasons: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." - Confucius.
In your case, that may mean NOT taking that first step towards your drinking joint.