By: Maanige Wenceslas (Director, Boona FM)
Having grown up in Uganda in a village set up and journeyed through life from childhood to mid-40s — an age I now proudly call the start of my “senior citizen” chapter — I have come to recognize three distinct categories of people we all encounter as we grow and strive.
Class 1: The childhood circle – pullers of the past.
These are the ones we grew up with — we went to school together, played childhood games, shared laughter, and got into trouble as kids. Some of them went on with school, others dropped out, and today, many are stuck in villages, struggling. Ironically, some were even brighter than us back in class. Sadly, instead of supporting your progress, they often try to drag you down to their level of suffering, as if you were responsible for their path. They want company in misery — a deeply frustrating experience.
Class 2: The peer competitors – Saboteurs in disguise.
These are the ones you’ve grown with through school and work. They see your success not as inspiration, but as a threat. If you rise above them, they may despise, blackmail, or undermine you. Some will go to dangerous lengths to keep you from reaching the “dining table of abundance.” They’re the most likely to question your success, report you to authorities, or find ways to discredit your progress — not because you did wrong, but because you dared to move faster than them.
Class 3: The gatekeepers– protectors of the tables.
These are the already successful — those seated at the table of abundance. One would think they’d help others up. But often, they close ranks. They fear that more people at the table will reduce their share, forgetting that God’s blessings are not limited. They forget that abundance multiplies when shared, not when hoarded.
The truth they all forget;
What all three groups miss is this: it is God who gives blessings, not man. Success is not a zero-sum game. Life is short — whether you die rich or poor, the grave accepts all. We should not fear or hate these people. Instead, stay focused on your path, live purposefully, and build a legacy. One day, you will leave this world — let what you leave behind speak louder than those who tried to stop you.
So, keep climbing. Ignore the pullers, the saboteurs, and the gatekeepers. Your destiny is not in their hands.
