It’s the way of the world

 “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” Anais Nin

  “In terrible moments, in moments of revolution, of war or repression, of illness or death, people react with incredible strength.’’   Isabel Allende

Have you ever wondered if the whole world is against you or whether it is your imagination? As the year comes to an end, you will ask yourself many questions.

1) Personal development: 

1. a) What did that classmate of yours who seems all together dumb do to become more important than you?
2. b) How come you realise so late in the year that you could have taken a leadership course which is free?
3. c) Why were you not picked from among your colleagues to represent your institution at an important workshop when you are the most qualified?
4. d) How did you not know all year that there were two schools beside your house which offer computer literacy and French which is so badly needed for your career?

2) Family development:

You find yourself at loggerheads with the rest of your family, it was the same thing in 2015, and now 2016 is coming to an end. Yet you are not a trouble maker.

You have tried everything to provide for your family to no avail.  If you are a woman, your husband seems to be far away. And if you are a man you can’t seem to get control of your family.

3) Workplace ethics:

1. a) You seem to be the only one working in your establishment and you are the least rewarded.
2. b) You have been with the establishment for 5 years and everyone with whom you joined has gone on course except you.

Minding your business is your middle name but no matter how hard you hide, everyone seems to be minding your business for you.

At the beginning of this column, I placed two quotes.

Both are from an incredible book by Katherine Martin titled Women of courage. This book tells the story of women at the bottom of the rung, down on their luck, ill and penniless who seem like the world is falling on them and yet rose from the ashes. This Is one of my favourite books because it is inspirational and speaks to all.

It is extremely hard to find one person who has not been through the difficulties espoused in this column. A boss who hates you for no reason, being passed off for promotion, having a hard time  with your family even though you are a peaceful person. These things happen, it’s the way of the world.

The best of men and women get tested over and over. The most efficient persons get attacked.  Take a look around you, the worst set of people, the frauds, the lazy bones, the rude people, those with empty heads are the ones who seem to be getting ahead in the world. In all of this, please note the use of the word “seem’’. This is because if you are tried and tested and you are a good person you will find an evil world challenging.

Evil persons have a pattern. Take a look.

1. a) There are certain things some of these people do to get ahead which are despicable, can you do them?
2. b) The rules they are willing to break to get ahead, can you break them?
3. c) There are people they are willing to strangle physically and figuratively, can you strangle them?
4. d) Are you mean spirited, selfish, vile and a user of people?
5. e) Are you empty, spiritually deficient and carefree about hurting other people?

You would become them if you want to get ahead at all costs.

1. i) Our blessings are each defined for us, our destinies well established.

Let us seek our talent and not waste time on things we do not enjoy.

1. ii) If you work hard, it may seem like forever but your reward is on its way no matter how long it takes.

iii) Be assured that we are all connected in the world and someone somewhere will definitely notice your efficiency.

1. iv) Whatever your challenges, this is your time to invest heavily in your faith.

1. v) Involve yourself in multiple streams of income. You work in an office as a civil servant, but do you plait, cook, bake? It is time to turn your hobby into cash.

1. vi) You are not happy at your work place and everything seems dark. Two choices:
2. a) Find another job but look before you leap
3. b) Persevere, it might get better. Turn your lemons into lemonade.

vii) If you are not at peace with your family, pray peace into your life. Is there something you can personally do better?

Finally take no prisoners. The other day, a friend turned 50 and told me that she had just given up a toxic friend of hers, as she had learnt from the column I wrote when I turned 50, that “I ain’t taking no BS at 50”.

Anything not adding value to your life, cut it off, make an effort to make peace, learn that your blessing is yours and not try to take another person’s. Maximise your talent and live like its your last day on earth.

Cut out the BS. I hope I have helped.

 

Eugenia Abu