It's been barely two weeks since the world marked the end of yet another 365day journey with routine celebrations all over the place.
It was indeed a time to reminisce the achievements and or disappointments of the just concluded; lean back, breathe and be hopeful for what is to come in the days ahead.
The resolutionists awoke from their slumber to chant and jot down routine word of mouth resolutions.
Mrs. hypocrite amongst the Christian fold somehow found her dust-ridden abandoned Bible and dashed to church to shout hallelujah into the new year (After all, God is a merciful God, He forgives when we run to Him).
Mr. ignoramus in the Christian fold was not to be left behind as he also danced and sang praises to God for what He would do in the new year. All through the year, he had prayed and fasted for a car and got none but in the coming year, he knows that God will answer that prayer he has been praying for over 15years. Amen? Amen!
And then the clock reads 12:00am, the fireworks begin, tears roll down faces, some are busy eating sand in the name of lying down to thank God for seeing them into the new year (Well, I don't have a problem with that anyway).
I will never steal from my mummy's pot, tell lies to daddy, beat up my younger ones....
We begin to hear stuff like that as resolutions begin to fly here and there. (I got no problem with that either).
I must confess, new year feels like having a plastic surgery. You know, people trying to look different, act different, live different, be different or better still, better.
You're probably reading this and laughing, but this is not comedy, and entertainment is the least of my aims right now.
-The global economic meltdown has been around for as long as I can remember and year in year out, all I see is governments inflating and the people complaining. I don't see a lot of persons (young men and women especially) asking questions like 'How exactly can we put an end to this madness?' and working towards possible solutions. Apparently, a lot of us are more concerned with trying to make a lot of money. The economy can continue to meltdown for all we care, provided our pockets are stashed.
-The political realm: In Nigeria, it's GEJ vs GMB. Everyone busy pointing accusing fingers when in all honesty, the majority of us have refused to be responsible and see our faults in all of the happenings.
-As Individuals and citizens: All we do is complain, of how the president should have done this or not done that, of how our lives are miserable owing to one thing or another, of how there are no jobs etc.
We've struggled with the same dreaded set of diseases for too long: Ignorance and Irresponsibility.
Don't we ever get tired of doing the same things over and over again?
Take a good look at yourself for a minute and ask yourself what you have done to better yourself as a person. What exactly are you not doing right? What contributions have you made in the life of the person next to you? What problems have you solved in your time on earth? What are the principles you live by? What are you made of? Where is your life really headed?
The resolutions should not come just from the mouth but also from the depth of the heart.
That's not all because a lot of us tend to lose sight and focus even before mid-year. Develop a drive that pushes you beyond your limits, one that says I can make this happen. Be determined enough that the year will not just come and go... again.
- Set goals: Goals are day to day activities that fall in line with the course of your life (dreams). Whilst your dream should outweigh you when viewed by yourself and others, your goals should be tangible and achievable.
- Dedication and Commitment: Nothing in life can work without these key ingredients, but then what are they without passion? Take out passion and you'll simply be struggling.
You've got to love what you do or learn to love it.
-Believe: Your fear of failure and negative thinking has got to be outdone by your belief. If you're more scared of failing than positive for success, you just might need to turn up your faith a lot more.
- Work: Work brethren, work! You don't expect to sit back, arms folded, doing nothing and somehow make it happen. You have to be ready to toil for what you want.
- Give: That givers never lack is fact. There's a simple illustration to support this;
fold your fingers into your palm and then stretch out your hands and ask someone to give you something, anything. You can't collect it cause you're tight fisted. In order to enjoy success and other material benefits, you need to be willing to let go... Emotionally, financially and otherwise.
We cannot continue to make the same mistakes over and over again, we should not continue to be told the same things over and over again. It's about time we became the change we want to see happen around us, there's a popular saying charity begins at home and no lie, it does actually begin with you.
Lastly;
No matter what happens, strive not to lie to yourself, no matter how bitter or painful the truth may seem. Remember that in time, everything will heal, but also that how fast that recovery or healing process takes is dependent on how well you choose to handle the situation.
Let us not rush into trying to be better individuals by making the same mistakes we've made over time but critically examine ourselves and reflect on what really needs to be done to further our various causes and rightly fuel our drives towards achieving our dreams. We cannot afford to keep moving in circles; again and again and again.
I apologize to every reader of #MAB for my long absence from the scene. I'm back now and I hope to get better and be more consistent this year.
Thank you all for sticking around, the calls, messages, social media mentions etc. Together, we'll grow stronger.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
