Balancing Work Life and Personal Life: A Story of Resilience.

Life has a way of throwing at us things we might never have foreseen and prepared for, and in April 2023, I faced one of the most distressing and trying moments of my whole life. That was the time when I got the blood-curdling shock of my life the 10-year-old girl (Aamaal Kasozi) whom I had grown upbringing, loving, and caring for from birth was not biologically mine, which was represented to me in the form of a DNA test result. It had never crossed my mind for once that I would opt for a DNA test until when a man surfaced from nowhere and insisted that my daughter was his child too, It is an extremely heart-wrenching situation that one can imagine, filled with questions about the authenticity of everything relating to my relationship with her, and I never once in all those years had any misgivings regarding her parentage.

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My pain was huge, and overwhelming, while at the same time standing at that emotional crossroads place where tough choices had to be made. It is like your life, in whose rhythm you are so well predictable, gets utterly and irretrievably smashed into pieces. To find your way through this very personal storm, trying hard to find some sort of balance between your professional responsibilities and personal life is quite demanding and tiresome at every possible level.

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This weekend, I was privileged to have been able to have a very deep talk with an old friend in the middle of a very painful experience in his life because of having lost two children due to the unfortunate revelations of the DNA. He was in an incredulously precarious situation that had driven him into the very breaking point of his emotional and mental capacity wherein the ability to work well was severely compromised and was very detrimental to his mental health to the point where he had started seriously considering resigning. The poignancy of the discussion made me realize just how important a help system is during such truly distressing instances in life, but on the other end, it drove home the point of just how blessed I was to have gotten that much-needed help in such a disposition.

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My then employer Mott MacDonald was again very supportive during this trying and difficult chapter of my life, giving as much support as one could hope for. They truly understood the degree of my hurt and, in God's favor, gave me the necessary time and space to process my feelings, deal with them, and eventually regain strength before resuming back to work. Sympathy and flexibility in the workplace are rarely found if ever in existence, and for this, I'm really and truly grateful.

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When, after some time off, I finally managed to return to work, I had the chance to put all my energy and determination into the process of rebuilding myself and my professional life in some sort of meaning. To my great surprise, with great pride, I received the title of Best Employee of the Year, coupled with a great and valuable prize attached to it. That has been pretty much a good reminder that indeed, resilience can pay and finally settle my thought that at times, even from the most challenging set of circumstances one finds oneself, one may rise again.

That was really an intense and enlightening experience, which taught profound lessons on many areas of life, the nature of work, and support structures. That has further been a very strong component in building a working environment that indeed cares about the mental health of all its employees so that they can go through their problems safely and securely without being judged or causing harm to themselves.

To whoever might be reading and struggling with a struggle that's somewhat similar to what I have described, I just want to underscore that it's okay, and it's normal when times get tough, to feel overwhelmed. Equally, though, it's about seeking help when you need it, leaning on that robust network of support around you, and most of all, allowing yourself time and patience to heal. You can get through it and come out even more resilient than before. It is worth remembering that life often has an inimitable way of throwing up new, sometimes unexpected opportunities to grow anew.

Today am very happy and full of life because i have made peace with it and forgiven both parties and wish them the best of luck in life as they continue nurturing innocent soul into responsible being.

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I am sharing this story to inspire resilience and hope. If you’re in a position to support someone during their tough times whether as a friend, family member, or employer please do. It makes all the difference.