THE ROSE

This inspirational story was sent to me by my friend Cyril Godefroy and he titled it simply as "The Rose". It's very inspiring:

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

    I turned a round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

    She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?"

    I laughed and enthusiastically responded,
  "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

    "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

    She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

    "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

    "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

    After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

    We became instant friends. Every day for the next 3 months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

    Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.

    She loved to dress up and she revealed in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

    At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet.

    I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by 5 cards on the floor.

    Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said,
  "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

    As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

    There are only 4 secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.
 
    You have to laugh and find humor every day.
 
    You've got to have a dream.When you lose your dreams, you die.

    We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

    There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

    If you are 19 years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn 88.

    Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

    The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

    She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

    At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

   One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

   Over 2.000 college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

    When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

    These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

    REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

    We make a Living by what we get, We make a LIFE by what we give.

YOU ARE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Have you ever seen a construction site? It’s not pretty; there is dirt, debris, nails and tools everywhere. It might be your own house under construction but you cannot LIVE there yet. The construction is not complete.

A caterpillar is a butterfly under construction. People may have looked down on that poor little crawling worm. People may have written you off as a worthless, useless worm that won’t amount to much in life. Little do people know that the greatest transformation starts inside where no one can see. When God is done with him; that crawling worm will fly in the sky with beautiful wings for the world to admire. Transformation is change on the inside. Don’t underestimate the importance of small changes in your life. Don’t despise small victories in your life. One day all of the change inside will be manifested outside.

Transformation is God revealing to the world what he was doing under the covers. All the changes, all the lessons, all the failures, all the pain, all the joys, all the ups and all the downs will one day be weaved into a beautiful tapestry of butterfly wings that will amaze this world.

So be patient as God is weaving a beautiful wing for you. Ignore the naysayers and the world that despises and rejects you. Don’t try to win their approval as the best worm in town. Focus on the change inside.

Butterflies, Babies, Diamonds, Gold and Peals have one thing in common – they were all formed and shaped in secret, away from the human eyes. So focus on the change inside and wait for the completed work of transformation inside.

The most important part of any building is its foundation that is underground. If a foundation is cracked the building is condemned. The most important part of a man is the character inside not the exterior. If the character is flawed all the decorations outside is meaningless.

A building is only as strong as its foundation. We are all builders. We build relationships that endure with encouragement and understanding or walls of criticism and negativity that divides. We build organizations with a firm foundation of integrity that will endure the test; or companies based on schemes that crumble when times of testing come.

For a leader to build an organization they must check their own foundation first and ensure their self-leadership is rock solid. Then can they truly build something that last and becomes their legacy.

“Successful leaders are continuously and consistently BUILDING a solid foundation of integrity and intentional growth for both themselves and their team.” – Benjamin S H Goh.

IT IS MORNING YET ON CREATION DAY: ART THE BEST POSSESSION.

Notwithstanding the volume of literature on the creative process, the act of bringing into existence a work of art, there is no consensus and not likely to be one on the matter. Even the human medium for eventuate of artistic forms, the artist, cannot pontificate on the exact nature of his activity or vocation.  He remains essentially an enigma to himself.

One thing is certain, though; namely, that whatever forces or efforts underpin the manifestation of communicable artistic form, whatever the nature of the various inputs into a picture, a poem, a piece of sculpture or music, be they physical, psychological, communal, spiritual or otherwise, the process is complex and still evolving.

Detective criticism sets itself the problem of tracking down the various ‘influences’ that contribute to the form and character of a given work of art or the oeuvre of an artist. Is the goal of this type of criticism attainable? Can the human mind unravel all the extra-formal aspects of a work of art?  Or are we limited to discovering a few levels of meaning?  Is art like a magical onion with limitless skins, a phenomenon that cannot be conquered by ex-foliation? Even if our critic confines himself to only the literary in the case of poetry, can he discover that obscure line or phrase in a daily newspaper that had caught the poet’s fancy, that memorable line spoken by the inebriate man at the pub which the writer immediately appropriated, that philosophical insight into the nature of death which the weather-beaten old man at a funeral had adumbrated?

The critic has literately to undergo each and every minute bit of experience which the writer had been through, including reading every word he had read. Unless on that artist’s attestation, how does a researcher discern the etiology of those motifs that have different significations in different communities or to several artists?

The point I have been discussing is that trying to unfathomed all that goes into a work of art is a herculean task. Nevertheless, insights into the processes or stages of say a painting can be quite revealing and salutary.

Quite often what confronts the spectator is the finished not the evolving work. Sometimes the so-called sketch or study is more exciting more spontaneous and human than the final thing for we have the privileged, as it were to look over the shoulder of the painter bent over his work, eavesdrop on the poet hammering out his lines, and watch them struggle with their medium and surmount several failures. The draft or sketch can also be likened to the tentative, initial, and sometimes accidental, gestures of the actor or dancer at a rehearsal.

 When you make your MARK in life, you will always attract ERASERS. To succeed in life you must overcome the many efforts of others to pull you down. How you choose to respond to criticism is one of the most important decisions that you make. The first and great commandment about critics is: Don’t let them scare you. “It is morning yet on creation day”.

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL: "THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM"

Traits in human behavior reveal that man has an unbeatable natural love for the good and therefore may be guided to recognize things that are noble as against ignoble, the beauty of the universe as against its ugly forms.

One is then able to appreciate the qualities of things within one’s own environment; or criticize them constructively. “Things are not always what they seem”

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guestroom. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things are not always what they seem”.

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angles sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

 The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, he accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

 “Things are not always what they seem”, the older angel replied.

“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he would not find it”.

“Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.”

“Things are not always what they seem”

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until sometime later…

 “Some people come into our lives and quickly go… some people become friends and stay awhile… leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts… and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!.

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeem social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded”.

“Things are not always what they seem”

Can you look deeply into a beautiful painting and ‘lose yourself?’ Can you walk through an art gallery and appreciate the inspiration and feeling that originated the brush strokes?

The Master (God), the greatest, has painted and sculptured a masterpiece, that can never be equaled YOU. He has created hills, canyons, mountains, rivers; but His greatest work is man. And to some men and women He has given the gift of artistry. I think this life is special… live and savour every moment…

PERFECTIONISM

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your
words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they
become habits. Watch your habits; they become
character. Watch your character; it becomes your
destiny”. -Lao Tzu

When you strive to be perfect you will always end up feeling like a failure.
However well you do, however much you achieve or attain, it will never feel like
‘enough’ because it will never be perfect, and it will never quench the insatiable
appetite of perfectionism. You are left feeling hollow and that you have somehow
fallen short. Perfectionism blinds you to your inherent worth and value, and
diminishes positives whilst over emphasizing negatives.

You spot what’s wrong, what’s not perfect, and fail to see the achievements, the
assets, the beauty and value that are there.

Perfectionism is an ego trap that keeps you separate from love, acceptance and
appreciation. It creates unattainable standards and expectations and offers no
fruits in return, being void of feelings of success, triumph, celebration, self recognition
and acknowledgement. The futile quest for perfectionism is a
compensation for a belief that who you are is not enough.

Seeking perfection is an attempt to vanquish feelings of inadequacy, shame and
lack of value, yet sadly it only compounds these.
If you are trying to be perfect you will not be able to love yourself as whom you
are right now. It is the illusory holy grail of the ego.
It's not about being perfect, it's about being YOU.

The more you love and accept yourself just as you are, the more easily you let go
of what you are not and shine your true nature, which is AMAZING!
Acknowledge the incredible love and light that you are, and your own unique
gifts, strengths, talents and potential. Who you are is so much more than enough!

“Every person is the creation of himself, the image of his own thinking and
believing. As individuals think and believe, so they are”. - Claude Bristol

This is an extract from a chapter in my about to be published book "WISDOM NUGGETS: Doses for Inspiration and Success"; coming out soon!.

THE HOLY LAND: Follow The Steps of Jesus

 The Holy Land is a unique and beautiful land, rich with a variety of historical, archaeological, and religious sites. Visitors like my wife and I, are charmed by its sweeping vistas, hospitable citizens and inspirational images. Israel is an enchanting mixture of ancient and modern.

The biblical history that little land reveals lies buried beneath the millennial of settlers and citizens who have called it home. In many places you can simply open the Bible and read about the sights you see. In the Holy Land you can experience the special thrill of walking in the footsteps of Bible characters.
Abraham roamed these hills four thousand years ago. About three thousand years have gone by since King David reigned here. But for Christians, Follow the steps of Jesus in the Holy Land constitute its ultimate moment. Especially Via Dolorosa (The way of the cross), Golgotha (Calvary) etc.
In these regions Jesus, the Son of God, was born. Here he grew in wisdom and stature. Here he was crucified. Here God raised him from dead.
The link below will show you tips and share some of the experience the land of promise holds in this beautiful slideshow.
http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-07de-7ca6-bebd?lm

ART: INSTRUMENTS OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING(PART ONE)

 ART as been defined as human creative skill or its application; the expression of human creative talent, especially in a visual form, and has served various roles in the history of man.

The oldest pictures in the world are over 20,000 years old; they were discovered early in the twentieth century and are pictures of hunters and animals.

The early man ascribed magical powers to art, he believed that the painted pictures will attract the animals so that they can be killed and eaten.

Until a few hundred years ago, most art works were of religious subjects; they were used to interpret the world’s religions, find meaning for existence, express beliefs and ideals, and to relate mankind to his universe and his God.

Then, during the Greek, Roman and the Renaissance periods, there evolved a mature, civilized and classical art; so-called because, mystery was abhorred and the dignity of the gods minimized.

“All interests centered on man, his doings, his pleasures and his feats. For the first time in the history of Art, the thinking man controlled.”

According to Sheldon Cheney’s: A New World History of Art, “It was the first mass challenge to ‘blind’ nature, and the First wide use of logical thought to solve human problems.”

This trend continued in art through the ages under different characterizations and has challenged another school of thought which seeks to confine art mainly to the visual qualities at the expense of the message. Should art be made mainly to satisfy the aesthetic yearnings of the society? A tendency, which currently manifests in the revival of traditional art forms by artists, or should it serve as a tool of socio-political engineering?

"No, painting is not made to decorate apartments. It is an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy.” –Pablo Picasso

The primary function of art lies in its service to humanity. Its aesthetics or commercial value cannot really be said to be of equal importance with this primary function. What this means is that the artist owes society a duty. Through his art, society is defined, redefined and redirected. It is in this sense that artists are sometimes seen as the conscience of society.

Miro and Masson in Cahier d’Art (no.1-4), a Paris art magazine in 1939, also opined that:

“There are no more Ivory towers. Withdrawal and aloofness can no longer be indulged… “The only justification for a work of art lies in the extent to which it contributes to the enlargement of man, to the transformation of all values, to the denunciation of social, moral and religious hypocrisy and thereby to the denunciation of the dominant class.”

Also, Dele Jegede, an artist and art historian opined that: “A facile display of techniques in these harrowing times is an avoidable indulgence. For the Visual artist, mastery of techniques and materials cannot, and should not, be a substitute for message and thrust. Otherwise he is a rambler who refuses to advance a thought through his art, or shudders from passing comments, or aims at no substantial specifics but revels in slavish celebration of mere technical proficiency.”

The history of radicalism in World art could be traced to the Renaissance. But in later years, great names such as the realist Goya, the romantic Gericault, the humorist Daumier and the multi-ism Picasso readily come to mind. Goya, in Los Caprichos, (a series of etchings) made in 1796-98, produced a series of attack on manners, customs and abuses in the church. Gericault, in the Raft of medusa captured a shipwreck which was a political scandal of his time.

Daumier, worked as a cartoonist in La Caricature and was imprisoned in 1832 for representing King Louis Philippe as Gargantuan.

Guernica (1937) by Pablo Picasso is a powerful protest against war. Back home, artists such as Akinola Lasekan and Demas Nwoko were thorns in the flesh of Colonial masters. In the late 50’s a group of undergraduates in the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, termed Zaria rebels, because they advocated for change also “displayed a high level of socio-political awareness by making visual remarks on the inhumanity of colonialism.”

Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Afro beat Maestro lived a life devoted to protests against all imaginable societal ills using music as his medium, so also Adeolu Akinsanya, Alias Baba eto. Late Chinua Achebe, in 1979 had submitted that “Any African artist that tries to avoid the contemporary African problems ends up being irrelevant. “… He must be aware of the faintest nuances of injustice in human relations. The African writer (Artist) cannot therefore be unaware or indifferent to the monumental injustice which his people suffer.”