There are two people that can never be forgotten in a nation, the man who turns a nation to forest through unproductive life style and the one who turns a forest to a nation by being productive (Evanson)
Everyone wants success, people talk about it, write about it, but until you make up your mind to persevere, to endure to the end, to be the last person standing when the fight is over, a successful life will elude you to the last breathe you breathe (Emmanuel Ameh)
If you can control a man's thinking, you dont need to worry about his actions. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do (George G Woodson)
The only thing you can do to help yourself is to create your own voice in a special way. Create your own voice where many voices try to overshadow yours. Do not be afraid or discouraged by those voices telling you to keep shut because they found your voice irritating or intimidating. Keep speaking in favour of yourself and in favour of those voiceless people out there. Gather yourself and move on. No one would do the growing for you but you yourself. It is your purpose in life and no one else. Give yourself a voice. A voice so different and rare from the normal voices out there.
Leave your comfort zone. Go to a strange place. Face your fear, face hunger and disappointment. Allow the insult from people to penetrate into you. Let out tears from your eyes and smile again. don't give up on yourself. Draw your self back to life and fly farther away from your foes. It will do you a great favour.
Growing up, one learnt to cry in secret and dry his tears and leave with a resolve to solve his problems on his own and the other learnt to cry in public and know that this will give release to the emotions bottled inside and also solve their problems but which ever way, be yourself around yourself, boys. God never promised us an easy journey till the end of the world but safe arrival. Do not think yours is the worst of all, everyone has a problem but what counts is how you carry yours poetically or politically. Boys, you are the only Archtect of your life.
Now, you ask us why we think our tears are meaningless and dubious. We have seen our "benefit" from being "allowed" to express them publicly and also anticipating the rush of many running to our side to offer emotional and financial help. We have seen people who are also "faking" their tears and since doubting our emotional outbursts and expressions is not allowed, seeing us yield the same results as the real tears. Move on and on. Only you can fix your problems. Worry is the interest paid to those borrow trouble. To change your circumstances, start thinking differently and that will bring understanding to your life. Don't follow the crowd to scream in empty tunnels. Yesterday's failures are today's seeds that must be diligently planted to be able to abundantly harvest tomorrow's success.
You can be allowed to be weak also, why not? Your weakness is not such a shameful act while theirs are celebrated? weakness is not differently valued by gender differences. What if I am not strong enough or I cannot make it in my everyday life? What if I want the kisses, hugs and assurances others get too when I'm weak? Man up! Man up and never allowed fear to rule you and your future. Man up boys! Man up and keep climbing! Man up the stairs arranged for your sake.You'll be a better man when you can pay for your hugs, kisses and assurance through your hard work.
My greatest concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are contented with your failure (Abraham Lincoln)
Why does my little effort not appropriated? You asked. why does my efforts get shamed or my innovations dysfunction or my premature dreams get laughed at? While others sagging ideas are appreciated by all? Why? Why? Why? And the whys keep coming and building itself like a mighty tower. Why do I feel like giving up always? Carry on, boys. A man's doubt and fears are his worst enemy. It is wise to keep in mind that no success or failure is necessarily final. Success always occurs in private and failure in full public view. Keep moving.
Just look a little closely my boy, the answers to everything you ever wanted are naked to your eyes: a man's failure is a laughing point, his weakness an embarrassment while on this journey, he must not look back at those laughing at him scornly. He must learn to give a helping hands to each other no matter how hard it might seems. Keep keeping on. Create your voice over those things that glamour for your failure. Welcome challenges, for they are products of testimonies. Become rich in learning and experience, all other riches will follow.
My son, boys are not stones as I always told you. we have our own challenges looking at us. Keep your head straight up and keep moving. We'll continue to admonish each other patting each other on the shoulder until the end of time.
Wait for it, it will surely come!
©John Chizoba Vincent
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