Resilience is key to success. A resilient person through series of failures, disappointments and tough experiences build character and important virtues like confidence, patience, and empathy.
Watch Deshauna discuss how being resilient molded her into what she became today. She has a simple message for us: Never give up. 💚
Credit: Goalcast
Sometimes those who crown kings don’t look like kings and may never become kings but they can help one wear the crown.
A short story
There was a poor man who wrote a book at the age of 40 and decided to launch it on his birthday. He had no money to fund the launching and so he decided to seek help from a millionaire in his community.
He made a visit to the millionaire’s home and after they exchanged pleasantries, he told his host what brought him. The millionaire told him to take out a piece of paper and pen. He said, “I’ll give you a test. If you pass it, I’ll give you the money you need and if you fail, I’ll still give you the money”. He then told him to write down the names of 10 people who could give him 10k each for his book during the launch. Surprisingly, the man could not write even 3 names.
Relationship is a currency
It’s not enough to have talent and skills. But there is much gain in building valuable relationships. A wise man once said, your network is directly proportional to your net worth.
Relationship is a stream of income.
Everything in life actually reproduces on the basis of relationship. Men are lifted through men. Many are talented but lack the right direction and person to announce them.
Who one knows matters a lot in life. There are heights and opportunities one will never attain if one don’t understand the power of keeping valuable relationships. Classmates and colleagues at work may be the ones that will lead one to his/her destiny helper because you have no idea who they know.
It takes just a recommendation to change a story. Don’t despise anyone. They might be needed one day.
An old man once told me the story of how as a young man, his mother used to ask him: “What is the most important part of your body?” Through the years, he would take a guess at what he thought was the correct answer. First time, his answer was: “The ears.” The mother replied: “No, many people are deaf. But you keep it and I’ll ask you soon again.” Several years passed before she asked him again. His second answer was: “My eyes”. The mother told him: “You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct, there are many people who are blind.”
Then a year later, his father died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Then the mother looked at the graveside and when it was their turn to say their final goodbye to their father, she asked him, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my son? He was shocked when she asked him by the graveside. The mother said to him: “Don’t be confused or shocked. This question is very important now and it shows you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you that you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson.” Then the mother looked down at him and threw her head to his shoulder and hugged him. With tears in her eyes, she said “My son, the most important part of your body is your shoulder.”
Wow! This young man was forced to ask: “Mum, it is because it holds up my head?” She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes in life. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.” There and then this young man knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is made for others and not for yourself. It is sympathetic to the pain of others.
People will forget what you said and did. But people will never forget how you made them feel in their crises times. Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them, but you always know them when they around you. No wonder a wise man said “If you want to be wisely selfish, care for others.” Yes! It will come back for you. Be someone’s shoulder today.
Culled and editted from the ODM.
Legacy
Life is dynamic. It changes each time we look at it from different perspectives. This is a story you might know. It tells of two opposites: selfishness and generosity, greed and contentment.
Larry and Harry
Larry and Harry, two homeless men were given a chance to travel to a third world country on an all-expenses paid trip.
They were told to carry nothing and to return with nothing. They were to make sure they spent all that was given to them. Provision had been made for their expenses and welfare which they would get upon arrival at their destination. The only caveat was that neither of them knew when they would be asked to return home.
When they arrived, they were both given a huge sum of money and a credit card with no limits, but reminded to spend it all before returning to their home country. At this, they became instantly wealthy by local standards.
Harry thought to himself. “Wow! This is my opportunity to live like a king for I don’t know how long this would last”. So he went and rented a Ferrari and rented the best room in the best hotel in town. He went to the best stylist, shaved and transformed his looks. He had parties everyday. Everyone in the city thought the cars and the wealth were his and they loved and respected him for it.
But at the back of his mind, Harry knew he would go back home someday and leave all of it behind but he didn’t want to think about it. He just wanted to live the moment and enjoying himself to the fullest.
Larry, on the other hand rented a small Honda to get him around town and stayed in a modest inn. He thought to himself. “This money will not last and I don’t know when I am going back so I have to do something tangible with it.” He decided to use it to change some people’s lives while he had the time. So he got busy, went out on the streets and started making a difference. He didn’t just give away money, rather he tried to help people to be self-sufficient. He paid off all the school fees of some promising young ones to enable them get an education and take care of themselves and their families. He found some responsible adults and funded them in a business that guaranteed they would be able to take care of their family and create employment. He devised a means of helping some of the homeless people get off the street and getting them into a trade for he thought “I wish someone would do this for me when I get back.” In short Larry spent his time changing lives.
Then after two months they were suddenly notified that it was time to go back. They hadn’t even finished spending all the money but still had to leave it all. They both said their goodbyes and headed for the airport.
At the airport they were given their original clothes to put back on before boarding the plane back to their country. Harry reminisced on the good times he had but wasn’t too happy that he was going back to his old life.
How would he readjust to being homeless?
Larry on the other hand felt good. He came with nothing and is leaving with nothing, but he at least helped others with a chance at life and that alone meant the world to him. Readjusting to being a homeless person wouldn’t be a problem because he never lived like the wealth was his anyway and always had it at the back of his mind that he would leave it all someday.
But little did they know that each moment they spent on vacation was being secretly recorded and they would be rewarded accordingly.
Now, which one do you think would be cast back out to the slums as a homeless person and which one would be entrusted with large sums of wealth and position of authority?
The same goes with our lives. We are here on a mission and will return empty handed except for the recordings of our dealings on earth. Many walk around thinking that the wealth they have is theirs to keep forever. When we look at the mirror, we think that what we see will always be there, forgetting that everything is temporal.
Have a good day of reflection.
Dear Friends,
I’m grateful that we made it to July 2020. You’ll agree that the year has been a stressful one. I hope you’re well and keeping safe. Don’t be anxious, things will make sense soon and we’ll live to testify.
Few hours before new year, I made a wish that I wanted to see a happy me in a peaceful world. New year arrived with a Greek gift. While we got news of this strange virus, I lost my elder sister and several relatives. I even lost several academic and career opportunities. Then came global rioting and demonstration caused by the killing of George Floyd in America. The world wallowed in suspicion, distrust and economic warfare. We never had it this tough for decades. I’ve never seen anything like it.
The outbreak exposed human fallibility. We trusted so much in science. The outbreak exposed that human activities hurt our environment. Yes it exposed science and its weakness. It exposed that we only love in lip service. It exposed how selfish, ignorant and wicked hearts of men can be. It exposed that governments don’t really care about the people. It exposed the beast – greed in man. Nature recovers slowly. We can’t help much, but we can encourage it.
As the world face a pandemic that knows either creed nor colour, we need to love more and show strong faith. Love is mother of all good things. Yes, the world can heal with love and faith gives the assurance of a better tomorrow.
July is here and we’ll surely progress through it. Remain focused on your goals. Show compassion. Be kind. Be courteous. Forgive freely. Remember the destitute, the homeless, the ones without food and clothing, when you give. Pray for one another.
I have this prayer for you: The sun, the moon and the stars will shine for your good. Divine Providence shall protect you. You shall prosper in good health and riches even more than your expectations. My soul rejoices with you for great testimonies. Happy new month.
With Love,
Oke’
I could describe you with colours
So I look to your pout, a rose patch,
You blushed when our grey eyes met,
Then a smile that reminds me of glee
Now your pretty face reminds me of the sun,
When she rise from the back of many hills
Dragging her gold blanket before farms
So if you would let me paint this muse
I would imagine sunrise over wheat fields
And fast approaching evening when birds fly home
Join me to reflect on this †video clip. You become what you tell yourself.
Wake each morning with a desire to become a better version of you. The world needs your skills and talents, don’t hide them.
It’s a good morning from West Africa. I’m up and thankful. Have a blessed day.
*
†Video excerpt from R. Kelly’s World Greatest
1
You can win
Don’t listen-
To naysayers
For you journey alone
2
You can win
Look within
Find what matters,
And believe in yourself
3
You can win
Of course you can
Trust in Jehovah
And let His peace guide you
***
Commentary:
Feeling down? Cheer up. You are far better than billions of people. You are unique and if you ever face any life’s challenge don’t shy away from it. If you run from it, it remains but if you face and defeat it, it would never come back. Resolve to enjoy your moments and feel the warmth of life no matter what. Yes, you can win!
Morning is breaking,
So is the sun upon the horizon
On a day many will till
And many will waste still
The clouds grow and spread
A blue apparition they made
With scupltures on the wind
And strange painting on the cloud
The waking day beckons to all
To everyone to work…
Arise when it is morning
Arise and shine…
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Commentary.
Procrastination is the mother of delayed destinies. Most times we seek to ‘relax’ a little more, without understanding the consequence. In the morning, the sun wakes and she does so, so we could wake with her. Time lost can’t be replaced. Time runs fast and when we can we should try to keep up with her pace. Is it not said, time is money? A second is worth billions to some people, worth millions and thousands to others and worth nothing to others. Wake up when it is morning and do some work, do some more painting, more drawing, culture your flowers more, check your dance steps or songs lyrics, write another chapter, cook another recipe… Do anything, anything but procrastination. If you work for yourself or from home… A little more effort will be helpful. Start the idea you have been grooming, the sun is waking for you. Is it not a beautiful morning from Africa? So arise and shine and have for yourself a nice day!
When the sun fails to wake,
The day grows so cold and gloomy
The Dew cast her spell on the day
From the hilltops, vales and lakes
To the countryside which is woody,
And the ponds where the ducks lay
There is no ‘life’ in the sad day
By the riverside, the wind blast
Throwing the trees into a wild frenzy
The leaves fall into the flowing rivers
As the white waters rush in haste
To lands where very few can see
If the morning sun fails to rise even higher
Should it be an excuse not to work harder?
Now if the sun fails to rise
We grow weak with the waking day
And all surge of energy for work
Disappears from even the hardworker,
We excuse ourselves with the days rain
And call the heavy storms bad names
But if the sun never woke from her slumber
Should we join her in her temporary sleep?
Let a cloudy day come and rain fall
But don’t let your spirits be dampened
It is never too late to start
