The English dictionary defines adversity as an unfortunate event or circumstance with the synonym been catastrophe,disaster,trouble. Every word defines my recent situation .Upon arrival at an airport I have touched down about 100 times, South Africa's World Class airport Oliver Reginald Tambo Airport named after Former Anc President and anti-Apartheid activist an airport that taught me a lesson recently I recall wheeling my trolley to a store to buy airtime and had to leave trolley outside since they were not allowed instore,I stepped out in less than 3 minutes only to see a man behind my trolley.That's my trolley I said as he responded, sorry this happens here once in a while.Without making a fuss out the situation I laughed it off and drove my trolley to my favorite store to buy my traditional hot chocolate only to find out that my men's purse was missing-God have mercy on me,my purse contained 3 travel passports I have had all my life,bank cards,some cash & aviators piece I got myself as a memento after successful summit up Kilimanjaro .One hour later South African Police Services(SAPS) opened a case file, released a detective to view the CCTV cameras which walked me back to the possible places I was pick pocketed.What do I do I asked myself? First thing I did was speak with friend Naomi who we had flown into South Africa together to attend the International Federation For Professional Speakers (IFFPS) regional convention, cared enough to come to my rescue.
Everything felt like a dream,movie experience that didn't come close to its end. Robin S.Sharma Author,The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari said; “I’ve learned that everything happens for a reason,” the yogi Krishnan told him. “Every event has a why and all adversity teaches us a lesson... Never regret your past. Accept it as the teacher that it is.”
I made a phone call to the Administrator, Centre For Coaching At The University Of Cape Town Graduate School Of Business where I recently started school without paying a rand,dime after narrating my experience. Every challenge,adversity can prosper us, once you allow yourself to learn what the experience brought to you in conclusion as Jimmy Buffet asserts; "It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad.”
Sunday, May 20, 2012
ADVERSITY ADVANTAGE
The English dictionary defines adversity as an unfortunate event or circumstance with the synonym been catastrophe,disaster,trouble. Every word defines my recent situation .Upon arrival at an airport I have touched down about 100 times, South Africa's World Class airport Oliver Reginald Tambo Airport named after Former Anc President and anti-Apartheid activist an airport that taught me a lesson recently I recall wheeling my trolley to a store to buy airtime and had to leave trolley outside since they were not allowed instore,I stepped out in less than 3 minutes only to see a man behind my trolley.That's my trolley I said as he responded, sorry this happens here once in a while.Without making a fuss out the situation I laughed it off and drove my trolley to my favorite store to buy my traditional hot chocolate only to find out that my men's purse was missing-God have mercy on me,my purse contained 3 travel passports I have had all my life,bank cards,some cash & aviators piece I got myself as a memento after successful summit up Kilimanjaro .One hour later South African Police Services(SAPS) opened a case file, released a detective to view the CCTV cameras which walked me back to the possible places I was pick pocketed.What do I do I asked myself? First thing I did was speak with friend Naomi who we had flown into South Africa together to attend the International Federation For Professional Speakers (IFFPS) regional convention, cared enough to come to my rescue.
Everything felt like a dream,movie experience that didn't come close to its end. Robin S.Sharma Author,The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari said; “I’ve learned that everything happens for a reason,” the yogi Krishnan told him. “Every event has a why and all adversity teaches us a lesson... Never regret your past. Accept it as the teacher that it is.”
I made a phone call to the Administrator, Centre For Coaching At The University Of Cape Town Graduate School Of Business where I recently started school without paying a rand,dime after narrating my experience. Every challenge,adversity can prosper us, once you allow yourself to learn what the experience brought to you in conclusion as Jimmy Buffet asserts; "It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad.”
Friday, March 23, 2012
MILESTONE
Milestone is defined in the English dictionary as a significant event or stage in life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation.
Nigeria as a nation joined the league of countries whose national flag got hoisted atop Kilimanjaro, this week last year March 2011 ,I had successfully summit to the highest point in Africa. Alexandrou Marios said : a milestone is a scheduled event signifying the completion of a major deliverable or a set of related deliverables.
Milestones were originally stone obelisks – made from granite, marble, or whatever local stone was available – and later concrete posts. They were widely used by Roman Empire road builders and were an important part of any Roman road network: the distance travelled per day was only a few miles in some cases.Many Roman milestones only record the name of the reigning emperor without giving any placenames or distances. The first Roman milestones appeared on the Appian way. At the centre of Rome, the "Golden Milestone" was erected to mark the presumed centre of the empire: this milestone has since been lost. The Golden Milestone inspired the Zero Milestone in Washington, D.C., intended as the point from which all road distances in the United States should be reckoned.
Decades ago,about two decades precisely as a teenager, I travelled with my late father Solomon Babafemi Awe(who accompanied me to my secondary school "Christ School,Ado Ekiti-Nigeria) as his official driver drove several hours from our Apapa G.R.A lagos residence through lagos,Ibadan expressway.I recall locating,seeing series of numbered markers placed along the highway at intervals showing up on the side of the road.
During our journeys,the excitement the mileposts brought as we advanced during our 4-5hour journey came because every new milestone reassured us that the proper path is been followed, and also indicated distance travelled or remaining distance to our destination.
Someone said: "Direction is more important than speed". Severally as we set out for school one lessons I learned with benefit of hindsight includes need to have direction as we travel through life. Too many people are so busy looking at the speedometers thereby forgeting milestones.Making time to mark,celebrate milestones is important.If you can plan to join me as I celebrate my anniversary of my successful summit up uhuru peak-Kilimanjaro.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
POWER OF PEOPLE
Power is defined as ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; capacity for action or performance; whether physical or moral.
People on the other hand is defined as persons with regard to their residence, class, profession, or group. Putting them together we could combine
these words "Persons with regard to their residence,class, profession or group with ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent capacity for action or performance; whether physical or moral.
March last year eight expedition experts started out with me from mountain Kilimanjaro's base via Mweka route everyday for six days supporting one man, Nigeria's flag bearer up Uhuru peak.Prior to the expedition little did I know my mountain guide Mr.Ian Minja existed and didn't know he had got to the highest point in Africa 177 times before leading me up the first time and the 178th time for him.
Happy I was when descending the mountain afterward hosted a press conference in Nigeria which incidentally co-incided with Nigeria's Elections Where "power of people" played a major role in Nigeria's successfully termed "free & fair election" elected President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I recall saying to the media, like Kilimanjaro some thought that holding such an election was insurmountable.
Every person that voted displayed action or performance as the definition for power above states,some moral or physical act that could never have happened without the will of fellow Nigerians. Sadly 1st January 2012 President Goodluck E. Jonathan acted against the will of fellow Nigerians who won him the elections less than a year ago.
Only a leader who forgets his success lies in the "power of people," electorate who one way or the other , retain the right to tell such a leader regardless of his stand ; do our will or we will work our willpower against you.
Unity unfolded days ago as several Nigerians showed government as I always say: Nigeria is not the geographical space in west Africa we occupy as Nigerians,Nigeria is the people who occupy the space guess that is why we call it Occupy Nigeria.Accepting the will of the people is the only way to start.
People on the other hand is defined as persons with regard to their residence, class, profession, or group. Putting them together we could combine
these words "Persons with regard to their residence,class, profession or group with ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent capacity for action or performance; whether physical or moral.
March last year eight expedition experts started out with me from mountain Kilimanjaro's base via Mweka route everyday for six days supporting one man, Nigeria's flag bearer up Uhuru peak.Prior to the expedition little did I know my mountain guide Mr.Ian Minja existed and didn't know he had got to the highest point in Africa 177 times before leading me up the first time and the 178th time for him.
Happy I was when descending the mountain afterward hosted a press conference in Nigeria which incidentally co-incided with Nigeria's Elections Where "power of people" played a major role in Nigeria's successfully termed "free & fair election" elected President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I recall saying to the media, like Kilimanjaro some thought that holding such an election was insurmountable.
Every person that voted displayed action or performance as the definition for power above states,some moral or physical act that could never have happened without the will of fellow Nigerians. Sadly 1st January 2012 President Goodluck E. Jonathan acted against the will of fellow Nigerians who won him the elections less than a year ago.
Only a leader who forgets his success lies in the "power of people," electorate who one way or the other , retain the right to tell such a leader regardless of his stand ; do our will or we will work our willpower against you.
Unity unfolded days ago as several Nigerians showed government as I always say: Nigeria is not the geographical space in west Africa we occupy as Nigerians,Nigeria is the people who occupy the space guess that is why we call it Occupy Nigeria.Accepting the will of the people is the only way to start.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Lacing Up Purposefully
Whilst mathematics tells us there are more than two trillion ways of feeding a lace through the six pairs of eyelets on an average shoe, I recall lacing up purposefully my new pair of laces unto my leather sneakers,my last day in Nigeria as year 2011 ended.
Every time I laced up the shoes before one of the laces broke it was specifically to tie them, making my feet firm inside my leather sneakers so I could go where I needed to be. As I changed the pair replaced them with a new pair primarily because one of the old ones broke,It occurred to me that the only reason the old one broke was because it was weak.
When a new year dawns it's simply because the old year's stale,used,past or permit me to say weak (like my old laces) which had to be replaced so I could lace up properly and purposefully to enjoy it.
There's need you,me, we all prepare to succeed this leap year. You can only take a leap only when your shoes,sneakers are properly laced up. Remember there are more than two trillion ways of feeding a lace through the six pairs of eyelets on an average shoes, silly put "lacing up purposefully" is it.
The lacing style that came with my shoes may be different from the one that came with your tekkies, there's also a need to tweak the laces for a different event type. Every athlete laces up properly for the race so one eventually gets to the finish line and also on time.
Every pair of laces stringed or fed through the six pair of eyelets of sports shoes on the tracks had been laced up from the locker room long before the set time for the race,easiest way one can tell each athlete is prepared for a successful race.Ready? You can win, when you are properly laced up. Properly laced up means making time to train,understanding the goal before one.
How prepared are you for 2012? Lacing up purposefully means simply getting ready,set to take on the goal(s)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
CELEBRATION OF LIFE EVERYTIME
CELEBRATION OF LIFE EVERYDAY!
Now is the season and time, right now is the right time to celebrate everyone in your life who has spent some time from their life to open you and me up to opportunities.
Musa Njoko was told by a doctor; “You’re in the advanced stages of Aids and have three months to live.”
Musa believed him and went home solemnly, and prepared to die with a weak and emaciated body that was beginning to check out emotionally-reluctant to think about tomorrow.
This made Musa lay in bed for days, waiting to die, and led to disclosure of status to her sister so she’d know what caused her death, which once had escaped her mouth she said: “I realised that, rather than fizzle away, I could choose to go out with a bang and enjoy my last days. So I started listening to my favourite music..., although I couldn’t always dance to it.”
The meals that were her favourite was what she requested; ice cream and fried chicken, even though she could barely take more than a spoonful.
She spent time with family and close friends-though she couldn’t participate in the conversations. Njoko wanted to be in the same room. Earl Nightingale says: “Our attitude towards life determines life’s attitude towards us.” Little by little, I found the energy to do more things, until it seemed I wasn’t on the brink of dying, but was slowly coming back to life.
Njoko’s strength returned and she was able to sit up in bed and hold a glass of water and began questioning the doctor’s prognosis.
Someway through discussions and reading after coming out with the truth of her illness, she began to understand about aids. This knowledge empowered her physically and mentally that on the day she ought to have been dead, her health had improved so much that she walked into the doctor’s rooms.
So shocked was he to see her up and about. The 15th anniversary of hearing her prognosis was some eight weeks ago approximately.
Your celebrating life everyday is important to your living.
Now is the season and time, right now is the right time to celebrate everyone in your life who has spent some time from their life to open you and me up to opportunities.
Musa Njoko was told by a doctor; “You’re in the advanced stages of Aids and have three months to live.”
Musa believed him and went home solemnly, and prepared to die with a weak and emaciated body that was beginning to check out emotionally-reluctant to think about tomorrow.
This made Musa lay in bed for days, waiting to die, and led to disclosure of status to her sister so she’d know what caused her death, which once had escaped her mouth she said: “I realised that, rather than fizzle away, I could choose to go out with a bang and enjoy my last days. So I started listening to my favourite music..., although I couldn’t always dance to it.”
The meals that were her favourite was what she requested; ice cream and fried chicken, even though she could barely take more than a spoonful.
She spent time with family and close friends-though she couldn’t participate in the conversations. Njoko wanted to be in the same room. Earl Nightingale says: “Our attitude towards life determines life’s attitude towards us.” Little by little, I found the energy to do more things, until it seemed I wasn’t on the brink of dying, but was slowly coming back to life.
Njoko’s strength returned and she was able to sit up in bed and hold a glass of water and began questioning the doctor’s prognosis.
Someway through discussions and reading after coming out with the truth of her illness, she began to understand about aids. This knowledge empowered her physically and mentally that on the day she ought to have been dead, her health had improved so much that she walked into the doctor’s rooms.
So shocked was he to see her up and about. The 15th anniversary of hearing her prognosis was some eight weeks ago approximately.
Your celebrating life everyday is important to your living.
Friday, November 11, 2011
GRATITUDE
Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling, emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. The experience of gratitude has historically been a focus of several world religions,and has been considered extensively by moral philosophers such as Adam Smith.The systematic study of gratitude within psychology only began around the year 2000, possibly because psychology has traditionally been focused more on understanding distress rather than understanding positive emotions. However, with the advent of the positive psychology movement,gratitude has become a mainstream focus of psychological research. The study of gratitude within psychology has focused on the understanding of the short term experience of the emotion of gratitude (state gratitude), individual differences in how frequently people feel gratitude (trait gratitude), and the relationship between these two aspects.
In the words of William Arthur Ward:"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." Today treasure the 84,600 seconds sent to you for use in life, unwrap your gift through living life.
Melody Beattie once asserted: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Walk tall today,this week and month realize rising up today is in itself a privilege handed to you for you and those around you.
I recall watching a special interview on a Briton who was advised by his doctor after series of tests that he had 60 plus days to live. The man woke up the following day went jogging after which he had a full English breakfast amongst other things. The day before he was supposed to die according to the medical report the media came back to interview him and asked what he would do the following day,he suggested they come watch him which they did and to their amazement the man lived life energetically as he had done and didn't die.The doctor ran series of tests on him again and discovered his health had improved,which was said to have experienced a turn-around due to his state of mind. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
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