just KEEN Insights

Gilbert Keen | Storyteller | Builder of things | Reflections & Personal Stories on Life🌹./\.☮️

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It's my 4 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

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I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you are allowed to change directions. You are allowed to do something different than the thing that you’ve always been known for. We are allowed to change and evolve and grow, especially as we come to know ourselves better 🫶🏽 in fact, I’m convinced life is made up of a series of pivots.

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Embracing Pain and Purpose: A Journey of Healing and Transformation

Discovering the Intersection of Faith and Mental Health

Photo by Federico Respini on Unsplash

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, I am reminded of the profound connection between our faith and our emotional well-being. It is within this intersection that I invite you to embark on a transformative journey—one that explores the depths of pain and unlocks the hidden treasures of purpose I finish writing the last chapters of "Awakening to Beautiful."

In the past couple of years or so, my life crumbled under the weight of circumstances. In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, my world came crashing down. I experienced the painful ending of a long-term relationship with the mother of my daughter, a separation that left me feeling shattered and overwhelmed. Material possessions slipped through my fingers, and the security of my job disappeared. It was in this deep abyss that I found myself standing on the brink of giving up, contemplating suicide at some point.

Returning home to live with my younger brother, I embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery. I sought therapy and mustered the courage to be vulnerable, breaking the chains of silence that had bound me for too long. The weight of depression lifted, and insomnia gave way to restful nights. In God's presence, I found solace and strength.

Yet, in the midst of this darkness, I discovered a flicker of light—a divine presence that reached out to me when I felt most alone. It was through this encounter that I realized the power of pain in igniting the fire of purpose within us. Just as gold is refined through the fire, so too can our lives be transformed through the trials we face.

I share this personal testimony not to seek sympathy, but to offer you a beacon of hope—a guiding light that will help you navigate your own journey of healing and purpose. You see, pain is not meant to be numbed or escaped; rather, it serves as a catalyst for growth and transformation.

When we sit with our pain, when we allow ourselves to feel its weight and acknowledge our role in our own suffering, we open the door to God's transformative work. It is in these moments of vulnerability that we find the strength to take ownership of our actions and embrace the path of healing.

But healing is not a solitary journey. We ought to lean on one another, to form a community that supports and uplifts us. Let us not suffer in silence, but instead, reach out to those around us, sharing our struggles and finding solace in the love and understanding of others.

In the coming weeks, I will delve deeper into more timeless wisdom I continue to while writing "Awakening to Beautiful", exploring the lessons that can be gleaned from these stories. Together, we will unearth principles that shed light on the intricate relationship between faith and mental health. My aim is to provide you with insights and perspectives that may be hard to find elsewhere, encouraging you to approach life's challenges with renewed strength and wisdom.

Pain and purpose are intertwined. They are the threads that weave the tapestry of our lives, creating a beautiful masterpiece that reflects the handiwork of God. I invite you to join me as we awaken to the profound connection between our mental well-being and our faith, embracing the transformative power of pain and purpose.

Stay tuned for the upcoming blog posts where we will delve deeper into more chapters from my book "Awakening to Beautiful", exploring my journey and its relevance to our own lives. Let us embark on a healing journey like no other.

With love and hope, Gil

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Be Still: Learn to Wonder

As we go through our lives, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily routines and forget to notice the beauty around us. But what if we took a moment to stop and wonder?

In the book of Genesis, we read about Jacob's encounter with God. He said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Gen. 28:10–17) We don't want to look back on our lives and think the same thing.

One way to increase our awareness of God in everyday life is by engaging our imagination and appreciating all that God has created. The word "imagination" comes from the verb "imaginari," meaning "to picture to oneself." We can picture ourselves as part of God's greater story and wonder at the beauty around us.

Worship is born in wonder. In the beginning, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. We should reflect on not only the Bible but also the world we live in. This practice can shape our quiet time.

In today's world, photographic and image-rich media can rob us of the ability to wonder at the ordinary. We only appreciate things that look good through a filter. But there is beauty in toast, in wrinkled skin, in industrial skylines, in barren deserts, in hospitals, and in rust. We need to stop, see the beauty, and wonder.

Our quiet times should be more than a practical part of our Christian life. They are the place where we reflect with awe, reverence, and wonder on all that the Lord has said, done, and created. Take a moment to reflect on your day and give thanks to God for His creation. Journal about it if you can.

What have you seen today that has made you wonder? Where have you seen beauty? Let's learn to be still and wonder at the beauty of God's creation around us.

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Forgiveness: A Gift to Yourself

Have you ever felt like your past mistakes or traumas were holding you back from experiencing true joy in your life? It's a common struggle for so many people who are stuck in loops of self-doubt, criticism, and negative self-talk. But what if I told you that there is a way out of this mental prison? A way to lift the heavy weight from your life and rediscover joy?

The answer lies in the often-misunderstood power of forgiveness. Many people confuse forgiving with forgetting the past, or think that forgiveness is something we do for others, absolving them of the hurt they caused us. But the truth is, forgiveness is a gift we give to ourselves.

As someone who has personally experienced the transformative power of forgiveness, I can attest that it is the most powerful gift we can give ourselves – right now. Before starting therapy, forgiveness literally saved my life. I suffered from deep depression caused by childhood trauma, and it took me many years to free myself from my mental prison. But with the help of my therapist, I learned forgiveness as a tool for self-healing, and it has been a life-changing experience.

Forgiveness is not hard to learn and practice, but unfortunately, so few people know how to do it properly. It only takes an hour to learn and a few minutes a day of practice to radically improve your sense of well-being.

Think about it – what would your life be like if you felt more energetic, more present, and more capable of achieving your dreams? What could you accomplish if you freed yourself from the burden of past regrets, trauma, and anxiety? It all starts with forgiveness.

Today, I invite you to start a new life. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to be present, to be the best versions of ourselves, and to boldly face the challenges of life. Forgiveness is the key to unlocking true joy and happiness, and I hope you'll take this gift and make today a beautiful new start. Remember, learning the gift of forgiveness is what freed me from my mental prison, and I deeply hope it can do the same for you.

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Customer feedback is the backbone of Pethaven, and we're grateful for the opportunity to hear from pet owners and advocates at last weekends Pet's Day event. Together, we're building a future where technology and compassion intersect to improve the lives of our furry friends. Join us on this mission and let's create a brighter future for pets everywhere. Let's disrupt petcare together 🐾❤️ #BuildingInPublic #PettechDisrupts #PetLoversUnite https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3NrZutvhh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Learning from the Best: Working with animals has taught me the most invaluable lessons on servant leadership. You just have to speak their language and read and watch intuitively for cues. (at Nairobi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpphiHGthgJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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My very happy place. Serotonin overload.I'm on cloud nine! There's nothing like spending the day surrounded by adorable furry friends. 🐾❤️ #PetsDay #SerotoninOverload #MyHappyPlace" (at Nairobi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CppT8OXtdtf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It's good to see the incredible work of Man Cave Men's Mental Health Initiative featured in today's Daily Nation! I believe it's crucial to break the stigma surrounding men's mental health and provide safe spaces for us to express our emotions in healthy ways. Man Cave is doing just that by creating a holding space for men to drop their performative masks and connect with their full range of emotions. The bold YELLOW headline alongside the political rhetoric is a testament to the urgency and importance of this conversation. Let's keep pushing forward towards a future where mental wellness is a priority for all men. #ManCave #MentalHealthAwareness #BreakingTheStigma (at Nairobi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpMRQZyoXZJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Navigating the turbulent waters of life

 It is fitting that the stoicism story started with a catastrophe when Zeno’s ship on a merchant voyage sank with all its cargo. The specifics of the wreckage are not known but it's a matter of fact that Zeno was left stranded in Athens with his ship laying at the bottom of the sea. He had to start over whether he liked it or not. He had the option of choosing resentment but instead, he embraced it and got to work. He accepted his new reality. It is not fun to start over. Nobody likes to rebuild, to deal with debts, to move to a new neighbourhood or to leave relationships and friendships that no longer serve them. But we don't have a choice. Nor do we know where this could lead, it could be for the best. I did not choose this. I did not want this. It is not entirely my fault yet it had to be done. Sticking with uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing amidst the chaos, and learning not to panic is the path to total transformation. This is an ode to TK, my daughter who inspired me to turn my life around, follow my heart, and to break generational cycles. I thank God who made me cross paths with people who challenged how I think and now I see things differently. I gave up the bad mental habits, stopped pity partying, and accepted that I am a flawed being. I stopped screwing myself over with substance abuse and dealt with the pain of separation and reparented myself. I always had problems with relationships in adulthood because I saw the world through a broken lens. Mistakes have made me grow. I don’t believe what I used to believe because of how I was raised. Now I think my own thoughts.

Maturity for me has seen me become morally and mentally self-reliant. I have adopted new philosophies about failure, adversity, pain and uncertainty.I have replaced my Windows 98 style of thinking and revamped it. This has helped me grow creatively, professionally and spiritually. This is why I write about my late diagnosed neurodiversity. How it affects my relationships, my work and my worldview. How I continuously benefit from DBT and CBT therapy to change my inner dialogue as I navigate life as a creative problem solver.

I write to educate other late-diagnosed people about what ADHD really is in adulthood and how to work with it. Just Keen insights is a newsletter educating diagnosed/undiagnosed adults on neurodiversity in adulthood and how to navigate life. I will share some intellectual wisdom gained from my lived experiences. By paying forward the experiential wisdom I continuously gain in my life journey through my raw life reflections, new learnings, and my unspoken thoughts I hope to inform and educate. With the hope that the shared resources, lessons, and insights would impact lives for positive transformation. It will feature information dumps on subject matters I am passionate about like technological trends, mental health, entrepreneurship, and conscious lifestyle.

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Great news! VETSAFE's startup Pethaven has been accepted into the @Microsoft Founders Hub program. This milestone achievement provides access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to scale and grow the business. It validates the team's hard work and dedication in the pettech space in Africa. The team is excited to share progress updates and thanks everyone for their support. . . #MicrosoftFoundersHub #startupaccelerator #startup #MicrosoftforStartups #pettech #nonprofit #getvetsafe #pethavenapp #pethavenstories #joinvetsafe (at Nairobi, Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cot1ZWiotdE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It's been twelve long years since you left me, And still, your absence feels so fresh, A day that shattered my world apart, And left a wound that will never quite heal in my heart. You were more than just a mother to me, You were my guide, my teacher, and friend, Teaching me the ways of life, And showing me the love that never ends. Your impact on my life was immense, A teacher to so many, and a source of strength, Your wisdom, guidance, and unwavering love, Will always be cherished, and remembered at length. Though you are no longer here with me, Your love continues to surround me, Guiding me through life's ups and downs, And comforting me when I feel small. I see so much of you in my daughter, And I know that your spirit lives on, Your memory will always be with me, And your love will continue to shine, now and forever beyond. Rest in peace, mum, You will always be loved, and missed, Forever cherished in my heart and life, My first teacher of life, and forever missed (at Nairobi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoZAhyWNWpL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I had an epiphany on my morning walk. Look at those 3 morning sunrays peering through the sky😻😻😻. So divine! This is a favorite spot on a river trail we normally take on most morning walks with my daughter when she visits. Thoughts of family, my daughter, and all the mistakes I have made in life flood my mind. I pause and wonder if I can find freedom. I have been living in my own head, too much. I have been hiding from the world and my own fear. I need to step out of the shadows and live and love.I know I have so much to give the world in my time here and I want to do it!I am a son, father, brother, partner, entrepreneur, a writer and many other titles but most importantly I am disciple.I have dedicated my life to the spiritual awakening of self and others. I have suffered from depression and anxiety, as well as other mental disorders since I was a teenager. I have been on and off of therapy for the last 6 years, and in that time, I have had some breakdowns. Since then, I have started changing my lifestyle, and reading about spirituality and the meaning of life. I am going to start writing about my reflections on those topics, as well as trying to be an example of how to live a conscious life. I have found meditation and being in nature to be very helpful in my quest to find freedom from these afflictions.Freedom is the most important thing in my life. I am seeking to live my life with a sense of joy, gratitude, and inner peace. I hope to inspire others to live freely as well. There's a new way of life, it's fresh and simple, it's conscious living. It means living in the now. It means living with purpose, it means being free.I guess this is just a story about my life, my challenges and triumphs as an entrepreneur, and how I learn and grow on my journey. I want tow write a book, to help others on their quest for freedom. I am hoping that by doing this, I can learn more about the process of creating and running a business, while also helping other people in the process. #gratitude #courage #fearless #reflections #epiphany #faith #love #thankfulness #spirituality https://www.instagram.com/p/CnEbua2N3Jk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It is written in Prov 12:10. We ought to take care of the animals God gave us dominion over. (at Nairobi, Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmJDzEGIOFn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[withchildbyzindzi]

The two red lines came with mixed emotions

Fear of losing my old self & meeting a totally new person throughout the journey

And excitement of meeting a totally new person throughout the journey

….motherhood.

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NEW beginnings can be painful...shed the old for a new.Change is inevitable.

[withchildbyzindzi]

The two red lines came with mixed emotions

Fear of losing my old self & meeting a totally new person throughout the journey

And excitement of meeting a totally new person throughout the journey

….motherhood.

[justkeeninsights]

NAIROBI STRAYS FUNDRAISER

Hey, folks! Would you like to help out with a stray kitten feline (Ms.Grey) friend we encountered in our Stray Feeding and Rehabilitation Program at PET HAVEN KENYA?

Upon examination, we noticed she had eating issues. Her teeth are misaligned and the vet says she has a mastication problem, and it's clear she's in pain while eating and drinking water. She barely eats any form of full meals and can only handle solid small treats. So at the vet's recommendation, we're looking to see about having her teeth removed to relieve the pain at the bare minimum. The vet quoted us roughly $200 so we figured $300 would be a solid number in case it's more expensive. This is to cover all teeth and those three strange lumps. We checked in with other locations about a lower price, but almost all of them quoted a similar or more expensive amount. This surgery has to be pretty soon, and it'd be great if you guys could pitch even $1 to help us make sure she can eat more food and painlessly! Thanks a billion if you do, and we will gladly spam images of Ms. Grey at you as additional thanks!