The wind beneath my sails

A dispassionate individual will never achieve much because passion is what fuels our ambitions....

What makes people do really BIG things ? why are some people so fiery about their convictions? I'd say it's because they have a high level of passion.

It's not always easy when a man decides to follow his convictions, many will laugh and ridicule same, but only he, the vision bearer, truly understands what he's all about.... Sometimes no one can make sense of his dreams, his decisions, his directions, but only he truly understands.

It takes a lot to have faith in your dreams and stimulate passion to bring it to pass. Your dreams or visions may not make sense now (remember the Wright brothers and the airplane or even the first landing on the moon) but one day, it will and only because you did something about it.

Your passion is also like a match that can ignite others around you. If you truly believe that you can, then you can, and you will always have recruits to help you with your vision. It is your passion that will encourage the faint hearted, the doubting thomases, and the vacillating individual.

I realise that passion is such a strong force that it can birth both good and bad (that's how come the world lost 6 million jews all because 1 person thought they were the scum of the earth). The truth is we are all passionate about something or someone, but then again, is your passion channeled in the right direction? If you don't you'll eventually end up unleashing a monster you'll never be able to tame.

I'm not sure anything was ever birthed witout some form of passion because that's what gives you the conviction to go forward even when it seems that all's not well or things won't work in your favour.

So then, how is passion generated? By conviction I believe... if you believe in something or someone, you can become quite passionate. But then, how do you become convinced (or convicted which ever is more appropriate)? By acquiring information. Once you know a lot about something, you become more knowledgeable and can either defend or repudiate it.

A man without passion is like a rudderless ship, no direction, no desires, no expectations..... and passion ultimately is what gives you a raison d'etre; a reason to live....

There's no turning back

The journey has been long and tiring. I've been on the road for so long
I'm tempted to stop, give it all up but I've almost made it to my destination it seems
Eventhough I'm weighed down by all sorts but I still must go on
I see where I'm going far ahead and I'm encouraged for it seems closer than it was yesterday

A lot has happened but I've grown and overcome
When I remember what I've been through in my past, I wonder how I ever made it this far

I know where I'm going and sometimes it seems like I may not get there, but strive I must
I can't turn back now, I've gone too far to give up on this trip

Where I'm going is far more beautiful than where I'm coming from
So on I go, towards my destination

I look not to the left nor the right, but straight ahead, my gaze is fixed
till I can almost touch my dreams

I'm not turning back. I'm going to forget my past and embrace my future....

I move on....................

I hereby tender my apologisation letter

It's been 5months since I blogged last, for many reasons chief of which was that I lost the inspiration or compulsion to write; speak yes, write no.

I've discovered that sometimes we need to go through a renewal process or a refining period, whatever it is we call it but we need to go through a time when we rejuvenate, and I hope that's what has been happening to me. I didn't intentionally decide to stop blogging, let's just say I never got round to doing it

So I hereby announce that I have begun blogging again! Thanks to all those who asked and/ or sent encouraging mails, I will not keep silent any longer, so watch this space!

Enjoy!

Today I...

Today I choose not to allow anything frazzle me
Today I decide to take full control of my thoughts and emotions

Today I choose to be who I ought to be
Today I decide to take the steps towards the picture I see

Today I decide to be more proactive
Today I choose to make my own future

Today I choose to be a better man
Today I decide to walk in integrity

No matter what happens around me, I will stand my ground
No matter what happens within me, I will not loose focus
No matter what anyone says, I will neither shift nor waiver

And even if the winds swirl and the sun scathes, I will not budge
Because Today I, promise to be true to me

What is love?

What's all the fuss about love anyway? and what is love really and truly?

Thinking about what love really means is an exercise in itself. How can I tell when I love someone? what proves my love to someone else? can my love be quantified?

Tina Turner believes love is nothing but a second hand emotion. Me thinks she saw the wrong side of love and that's why she feels that way (if she still does). Anyway, here are a few takes on what several people think love is;

1. Love is a feeling you feel when you feel differently about someone you've never really had feelings for but that person may have always felt strong feelings for you eventhough you never really felt the feeling (yeah right!)

2. Love is denial; to show I love you, I must deny myself of all I consider important just to make someone else happy. I haven't shown my love till I have absolutely denied myself

3. Love is in sex; you don't love me until you have given me your body.

In all my quest to understand what love is, I've discovered that the truest definition of love comes from the author of love Himself; "there is no greater love than a man should lay down His life for a friend" or even "love your neighbour as you would love yourself" or even better still "GOD IS LOVE"

Love is giving; unconditionally, freely and truly, expecting nothing in return. Love thinks of the needs of others ahead of self. Love assumes the best of all. Love forgives, love forgets, and now I know true love waits...

I know love when I see it;

The parents who struggle beyond all odds to ensure that their child gets the best of life; all that they never had

The guy who rushes to the airport to catch a glimpse of his sweetheart eventhough he knows he's going to be late for work and may get a query

The dog who follows his master everywhere and constantly stands by his side

The teacher who patiently ensures that the pupil understands the lesson

The friend who stays with another all through her grief, forgetting that she has challenges of her own as well

Love is you, love is me, we only need to realise the truth within us

Down in the dumps

Come with me to a gig that's happening just around the corner. Yes I know you really can't hear any music but trust me, the party is in full swing already. I can almost hear your thoughts. You are wondering, who plans a party without any music? but I assure, there's music, it's just that you can't hear it.

As I open the door, you see only one person, hutched in a corner. Where's the party really at you ask? how come there's only one person here? and he doesn't even look like he's in party mode. Some party you say... and I answer, yes.. some party... a pity party.

We stare intently at the young man taking solace by the corner. He must obviously have been going through something; his countenance is downcast, he doesn't even look welcoming. We call out to him but he doesn't respond. Instead, he just turns his face away as though we weren't there.

We stand for a while and eventually, he acknowledges our presence. "Go away" he says. We move towards him and he shouts in a louder voice "Don't come near me, leave me alone". But we keep moving towards him. We squat beside him. Eventually, he opens up to us. His story is quite pityful, we can't help but feel pain for him for he has indeed gone through a lot.

But then, must he remain that way? Must he live within the confines of his past? Must his focus be on what wasn't instead of what could be? Must he continually dwell in his sorrows?

Now here's the real story.

You must have attended one these events before.. you know, those parties that we go through such pains to plan and organise. Party planner... ME!!! Caterer... ME!!! Bandstand... ME!!! Events decorator... ME!!! and finally, the Special guest of honour... ME!!! The beautiful thing about this party is that you have only one guest.. YOURSELF! and you don't need to spend a dime to get it going; just let your emotions run riot on you, negatively of course. You could just sit in a corner and probably sulk away. Of course there are many other options; you could cry away, daydream, fret or even throw a temper tantrum. Remember, whatever it is you do is designed to generate sympathy for yourself whenever you feel down and out.

And so I ask myself.. why must I allow my emotions dictate how I feel? must I subject my countenance to my feelings? I can master my emotions if only I realise and comprehend that. I can control how I feel and not yield to defeating thoughts. I can decide to be joyful even when it seems like the world is against me. I can be ME and not allow other people to determine who I am. I can conquer self limiting thoughts and stop self- defeating behaviour. But how?

I ask these question only... What/Who/Where is your anchor? What have you placed your hopes on? Who have you put your faith in? Where lies your expectations? What assurances do you have of a better tomorrow?

Waiting for Godot...

This piece has absolutely nothing to do with a book of similar title, it’s just that I have ascribed the phrase “Waiting for Godot” to mean waiting endlessly for something that may never happen.

The day begins so well; everything seems to have fallen in place and just in time too. I’ve looked forward to this day when everything will be perfect for “it” to happen. I am standing on the balcony of my house, looking out at the world before me. Yes, everything really appears to be ready for “it”. The temperature is just right, the winds sublime, seeming to usher in waves of blessings. The sun isn’t as scorching as it usually is. I can hear the peaceful chirping of the birds in the trees singing harmoniously, in fact, they are playing my song! Heralding my success at accomplishing “it”. What a wonder. I can smell “it” in the air- Perfection! Aaah!!! How I have waited for this moment, in fact, waited all my life, and now “it” is here.

I say to myself “My plans will now fall in place, my dreams will see the light of day, finally, I will accomplish “it”, what I’ve always wanted to do will now become reality”.

I rush out into the day, I must bring “it” to pass, I must do all I can to make sure “it” works, everything is just right, isn’t it? I check again just to be sure, yes… everything is fine. The sun is still shining, the winds are mild, and the air is cool. So I rush ahead. It appears everyone and everything knows I’m going to accomplish “it” today because everything is just falling in place. I’m happy, after waiting this long, certainly “it” must be accomplished today.

And then, just at the time when “it” is supposed to happen, “it” doesn’t.

The wind has changed, becoming wild, swirling fiercely all about, taking everything in it’s presence away, and upturning all in it’s path. The sun runs away seeking cover behind the clouds which have gathered fiercely to support the wind in its fight against the accomplishment of “it”. And my ensemble of singing birds? They’ve disappeared! Not even one is left behind to lift my soul and persuade me to go on. You ask “persuade me to go on?” yes, persuade me to go on for I have given up. After waiting for “it” for so long, now nothing!

I’m crestfallen. I’d been so expectant, waiting for “it” to happen. It is the end of another cycle and again, I haven’t accomplished “it”.

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done”- The Bible

The reality of life is that there are no perfect conditions/ situations/ environments/ circumstances etc. “Waiting for Godot” as I like to call it is the best killer of so many dreams. Also known as procrastinating; waiting till everything seems right before taking a step has killed dreams before they even saw the light of day. The truth is that, the sun will not always shine, neither will the wind always blow. Things will not always turn out the way we expect every time, so we need to be prepared to act irrespective of our external environment.

If we think about it real hard, we'll realise that we can create our own environment. You can determine your weather! So get up and go right now!!!