No Longer a Child...

Since the year began, I'd been thinking up what to write as my first post for the year! I definitely didn't want to feed you with all that "new year resolution" stuff that you probably are tired of hearing or reading about.

As I sat in the barber shop this evening, I noticed something on my head, two strands of grey hair! Not like there's any big deal as some people have it from a tender age however, I never had it from a tender age and I barely noticed since my hair was always cut down low, 2face style!

Well for a second or so, reality hit me hard like the chilly harmattan breeze that hits you in the face early in the morning in northern Nigeria - I wasn't getting younger! Gone were the days when I could call an uncle or aunt or my parents when I was broke and request for some money, now my younger siblings and cousins expect me to 'drop something'. Now I earn a salary, for the last few years of course and responsibilities stare me daily in the face.

Anyway, the lesson from my encounter this evening was nothing of the above sort rather, I realized I now had shorter time than before to achieve my goals. It dawned on me in the words of Korede Bello that, "I am no longer a child, bear bear don show, junior don grow...". So if you're still doing somethings that are childish, or still 'playing around' thinking you've got time, still being unserious with your career, passion, relationships, spirituality and life in general then, my dear friend, you should stand in front of a mirror and listen to the legendary Michael Jackson's man in the mirror.

Dude! you are no longer a child!

Happy New End 2014!!!

 

I welcome you to the New Year! Yes, I know it may sound somewhat absurd that while we are already through the first month of the year, I’m just saying my new year’s greetings. However, for the past two weeks, I thought of the right post, something to keep you and I inspired all year-long then it hit me; in life, some are early starters, others are late starters, some are early bloomers, others are late bloomers however, what matters is that at THE END of the year, we all see ourselves, at the top and in December!

The journey of life is not about who starts well or who starts fastest rather, it is about where we all end up, the finish line. Virtually in every sport, what matters is not the score at the beginning rather, it is all about what the score line reads at THE END (ask Nigerian soccer fans in Atlanta ’96 or Liverpool fc fans in the early 2000’s or even, the home based super eagles at the on going CHAN).

This is not to say that the end justifies the means if we say the end is all that matters instead, our definitions of the end must be guided by precepts and values which we hold dear either as enshrined in our religious beliefs, or in the norms, values and culture including laws of the land. What this reminds you is that as a good name is better than riches, as the race is not to the swift nor to the strong, and as the end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof, you should not be discouraged if you’ve broken some new year resolutions already, or are not in line with the goals you’ve set for the year and are wondering how they will ever be achieved.

Always remember, having your eyes fixed on the prize, THE END, whatever obstacles that may stand in your way right now are nothing but potholes which may even serve as propellants for reaching your goal. Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man never starts the first few meters in front instead, he powers through and shines at THE END. I’ll end with the words of my former vice chancellor, Professor Oyewale Tomori, ‘let us mind in the beginning, the things which matter in THE END’.

Happy New Year of opportunities, possibilities and successes! See you at THE END!