There is a question asked by many self-help books and life coaches: “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer: “One bite at a time”. Not that I would ever dream of eating an elephant, mind you, but the point is supposed to be that you must break a large task into small, doable parts. I have tried to keep this directive in mind for a long time now, but I don’t think that I ever really got the entire point until I have been in Tanzania for a month.
Even though I worked diligently to break the task into smaller units, I was still focussed entirelly on the “elephant”. I am starting to think a little differently. By breaking those overwhelming tasks (the elephant) into smaller parts, it allows one to ultimately conquer the end goal. The part missing, however, is actually celebrating each of those small packages as an accomplishment in of iself.
Tanzania is full of elephants – and not just the literal ones. Buracracies, power outages, congested streets, limited infrastructres and poverty all blend together into one giant vat of stew that can make any task almost insurmountable. One cannot simply “get in and get out” – accomplish that giant project and still have time to ride off into the sunset (“who was that masked man”)…
My first month here has been full of frustrations. It seems sometimes like there is always one more thing that has to be overcome. The main project seems like it will never be completed. I have had to learn that, if one focusses only on the primary project, disappointment is more regular than success. As a result, I have begun to compile my “Tanzanian Survival List”.
1.) Break the project into small, daily tasks (“one bite at a time”)
2.) Focus on the small things – they all add up.
3.) Take the time to CELEBRATE each accomplishment – simply moving quickly on to the next task will ultimately lead to more frustration.
4.) Reward yourself for each success, no matter how small it seems. In Tanzania, even washing your clothes or cooking dinner can become a major task.
5.) Take time to appreciate the small things. Watching a gecko, wondering at an animal’s antics, or savouring that aromatic cup of coffee is not only satisfying, but quickly places things in perspective.
6.) Breath, and… smile!” Other people here do – even in the face of floods, disasters and abject poverty.
7.) Hakuna shida.
8.) Relationships are more important than goals here. Take the time to create them!
9.) Time is different here. Watches are for important meetings, and even then, do not rule outcomes. Take the time to learn about “time” here. Take the watch off your wrist – it is ultimately an invitation to theft, anyway.
10.) Make your lists, but remember they are not written in stone – see list number 8.
So ends my first of three months here in Tanzania. I look forward to the next month, and the month after; and each experience a new day will bring. Today, my reward for the past week is a trip to the Pugu Hills Nature Reserve, outside of Dar es Salaam. I look forward to posting some new pictures.
For now, signing off.
“Good Night… and Good Luck”
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