Life doesn’t give you what you want, it gives you what you deserve
In the African wilderness, nothing is promised, nothing is guaranteed, and nothing is wasted. The hyena, often mocked as a scavenger, carries home a prize most animals would scoff at—a single buffalo leg. To the lion, it may seem scraps. To the leopard, it may appear beneath their dignity. But to the hyena, it is victory, survival, and a reminder that life gives not the banquet we dream of, but the portion we fight for and deserve.
The hyena does not complain about not getting the whole buffalo. It does not sulk in the shadows, envying the lion’s feast. Instead, it sinks its teeth into what it has earned. One leg may not look like much, but for the hyena, it is nourishment, it is triumph, it is proof that persistence always pays.
Life is like this: we often sit and dream of golden thrones, lavish tables, and endless riches. But dreams alone feed no one. What matters is what you chase, what you endure, and what you’re willing to carry home. Just as the hyena’s reputation has never stopped it from surviving, your critics cannot stop you from thriving. Life will never hand you the whole buffalo simply because you want it; it will only reward your grit, your resilience, and your effort.
In the end, the hyena limps home with more than just meat—it carries the lesson that survival belongs not to the strongest or the most glamorous, but to the most relentless.
Moral Of the Story:
Life doesn’t owe you anything earn it.
Across the continent, countless young people complete school with high hopes but no guarantee of employment. A degree is not a ticket to success; it is a tool. The mama “mboga” in Gikomba market doesn’t wait for handouts nut wakes up at 4 a.m., sets up her stall, and earns her daily bread. Life rewards her hustle, not her wishes.
Resilience outlives reputation.
Critics doubted the ability of Eliud Kipchoge to break the two-hour marathon barrier. Yet, his resilience outshined every skeptic. His legacy is not built on what people said about him, but on what he proved through consistency and focus.
Small wins fuel big journeys.
Women led savings groups “chamas” are built on this principle. Members contribute small amounts, daily, weekly and those modest inputs eventually fund businesses, land purchases, or school fees. One hundred shillings may look small, but compounded, it becomes a stepping stone to bigger achievements.
Comparison is the thief of contentment.
A “boda” rider may be tempted to envy the “matatu” owner, forgetting that the same “matatu” owner once started on two wheels. When you measure your success against others, you lose sight of your own progress. Be proud of your ride, however small it is moving you forward.
Dreams don’t feed you work does.
Back home, many Kenyans dream of “hitting the jackpot” through betting. Yet, the true jackpot is the mama who plants “sukuma wiki” behind her house and sells to her neighbors daily. Her steady work puts food on the table; dreams without action feed no one.
Endurance is the real strength.
Look at Kenya’s long-distance runners from Iten. Their strength is not in speed alone, but in the endurance built by running uphill every morning. Life, like a marathon, is not about how fast you start but how long you can keep going.
Critics don’t stop progress.
The late Professor Wangari Maathai faced ridicule when she planted trees in a time when few saw the value of conservation. Yet, her critics could not uproot her vision. Today, her Green Belt Movement lives on, proving that progress is louder than mockery.
Survival belongs to the relentless.
During drought, pastoralists in northern Kenya trek miles in search of pasture and water. Their livestock survive not because the land is kind, but because the herders refuse to give up. Life bends to those who keep pressing forward.
Nothing is promised, only fought for.
Kenya’s independence was not handed over; it was fought for by men and women who believed in a better future. Every right, every freedom, every opportunity we enjoy today came through grit and sacrifice.
Gratitude turns scraps into triumph.
A street vendor selling roasted maize on Tom Mboya Street may earn just enough for supper, yet celebrates each sale with a smile. What seems small to others is survival to them and gratitude transforms it into victory.
My Thought:
Like the hyena in the wilderness, Kenyans have learned that survival, progress, and success are not about having the whole buffalo. They are about resilience, grit, and gratitude. In this land where nothing is promised, those who fight relentlessly even for the scraps are the ones who thrive.