I left PwC Tanzania ten years ago, and that is a long time for corporate life. I never focused on how long that was until a few weeks ago. I checked social media and saw someone I had joined the firm with. The company promoted them to senior manager at one of the biggest banks in the country.

That made me feel like I am so much behind. Most of my peers have master’s degrees and certifications, like CPA, ACCA, and CFA. But I am stuck with my degree and completely out of corporate life.

Yesterday, I saw a friend on WhatsApp. She posted about her fourth daughter’s birthday. Here I am, with no kids. I replied to her post saying, “cute kids.” It’s human nature to feel left out when others compare us. But something fascinating happened today.

That friend, promoted to senior manager at a top bank, called. He asked for advice on his small side business. He is asking if I can assist with ways to raise funds and get people to support him.

I was shocked because he seemed to have figured everything out from his life on social media. That was confusing; at least I thought so. 

A few minutes later, I received a response from my friend who posted the “cute kids”; she said, “thank you, Uncle Rogers.” Then, she added, “But the older one is not okay. She’s been in the hospital for eight months. Please pray for her. And I got separated from my partner, so am all alone” I was more confused.

A friend is posting on social media. He claims to be a successful senior staff member at a big bank. He also runs a great business. Now, he’s asking for my advice on how to fix it. Another friend has been sharing happy pictures of kids on WhatsApp. Now, she tells me that one of them has been in hospital for the last eight months. And even worse she is a single mother.

Well, my confusion always goes away when I remind myself of the duck syndrome. Let me tell you a story about ducks; they are my least favourite birds, but they have the best wisdom. My grandmother had ducks, so they surrounded us a lot while we were growing up. Ducks are dirty and rough, and they are slow and lazy for much of the day.

One of the coolest things that ducks have is their ability to float on the water in the calmest way possible. And they don’t float by staying in the same space but by going very far. I found out that under the water, ducks paddle hard to move, especially in strong currents or winds.

The duck on the water looks chilled, relaxed, and cool. It is calm despite the deep, chaotic water. But if you look below the water, you will see its dirty legs paddling like their life depends on it. Now we call that the duck syndrome.

Social media has made everyone embrace the duck syndrome. It has pressured people to show off their good, public lives. They hide the chaos and struggles behind closed doors. Like a duck, perfect above water but paddling like crazy below.

You can observe the things you choose to show to people and the reasons behind that choice. And you can observe all the chaos that is happening behind. And that should remind you, next time, not to feel pressured by others. They are cooler, better, healthier, and wealthier on social media. Remember, everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Ten years later, I am still happy. I left the corporate life to create my own company. I want to tell stories and go on adventures, like skydiving. I have my struggles; I have my chaos, but I am also as cool as the ducks out there.

Every time you see me posting cool stuffs about my life, adventures and business just know am just another duck trying to stay afloat. Things beneath are crazy and chaotic.

And that applies to everyone, from the President, your religious leaders, elders, friends to the celebrities you admire and adore. All of them are struggling to stay afloat on something in their lives.

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you be free from suffering.

May you find peace and joy.

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Rogers Katuma

Financial Artist, Senior Adventurer, Occasional Storyteller and an Amateur Golfer