Roughly a month ago, I was on the brink of losing myself with the hectic life that accompanies a young, overworked youthful Kenyan in Nairobi. Life was a complete repetitive circus of work from the early mornings and hang out in the late evenings accompanied by endless Nairobi traffic jams.
In hindsight, I realised I had gotten too used to the melee that I never imagined the world any other way, but most unfortunately, I was losing touch with my family.
My typical day included leaving my self-contained crib in a fairly decent neighbourhood of Nairobi’s Westside to my workplace in the city centre. On my way back, I would stop over several joints, mostly to escape the evening traffic, although I lied to myself that I was living the ultimate city life everyone yearns for.
On the weekends, my hangout buddies were so readily available that I spent more daylight hours away from family, the people who ordinarily should matter most.
Exactly one month ago, my boss convened a meeting greatly concerned about the potentially disastrous effects the Covid-19 virus would have on the staff.
One hour into the meeting, it was clear that we would begin working from home and as the life-loving buff I considered myself to be, I was destined to milk all the pleasures the unforgiving Nairobi traffic had robbed me.
Three days into working from home, I discovered how much I had grown out of touch with my family. I, in the most humbling way, realised how I had taken for granted the immeasurable support my wife and folks back in the village had given me as my career blossomed. That I had spent more energy building new and maintaining other relationships at the expense of my very core support base.
One week into the experience and after setting up my home office, I had already rekindled a familiar spark in the eyes of my partner. I started developing a clear perspective into what I needed in life, to value my relationships in the best way nature has taught me how.
However, as my love life blossomed, I began discovering that my other life, that of my folks in the village and friends from other places, started to wither albeit slowly. My happiness pendulum was swinging unevenly and it worried me. So I had to devise a trick to make it all work in my favour. Luckily, Airtel is always on my side.
After a little research online, I discovered that staying apart did not have to mean that I should stay away. My handset then came in handy at this juncture. Just by the click of a button, I could share my love with people hundreds of kilometres away, and be rewarded while at it.
I learned that I could share my airtime with my mum any moment I wanted to. You know, she is a digital mom and when she calls, hours can easily pass by as she insists to offer any piece of village gossip there is to know.
I was presented with different ways I could share airtime and bundles with my loved ones and still earn a 5% airtime cashback.
I first downloaded the MyAirtel App which allowed me to share anything, from bundles to airtime and money to my folks all at the click of a button.
I was also free to share the items through the Airtel channels but what stood out for me the most in the whole experience, which I still enjoy to date, is the two ways I got to earn money while going about my errands.
First, I just loaded my Airtel Money wallet and bought airtime for my friends and family and instantly received my cashback reward.
In another instance, I recharged my main account for a minimum value of talk time through my debit card (there is a credit card option too) and I got my instant cashback in airtime which I could share through the Me2U feature on MyAirtel App With friends and family.