Always Rise Again and Move On

The only thing worth trying when all else has failed... is again.

This is a short post, featuring words that are not from my mind, but words that a essential for a healthy mind.
These words are so profound, that I see no need to add anything to them.

Check out the following videos:

Still I Rise by Yolanda Adams



Move On by Abba



Have a great day guys
:)

Take Initiative. Seize the Day

This weekend, I was on Twitter and chanced upon this Saw or Final Destination trending topic. Well, I am a great fan of this film genre. The Saw franchise is a particular favorite largely because there's some thought provoking quotes therein.

Speaking of Saw, I am reminded of something that resonates very well with something I've been thinking about lately, in regard with some things I should be, but I'm not doing, in my life.
In Saw III, the ailing Jigsaw says the following:

Despite having all the advantages, many of us still choose not to advance.

That said, I realize just how intelligent, blessed, and fully equipped I already am. But things won't just happen. Good intentions, just like potential, are just that. Until and unless someone gets something done, things will inevitably stay the way they currently are. In effect, things will generally tend towards disorder as espoused by the law of entropy.

How to Win in the Coming Jua Kali Boom is one of the best books I've ever read. The author's note that introduces the book clearly states that "status, wealth or attainment are the result of endeavor and not natural endowment." This in other words, reinforces the fact that there is need to get doing things for progress to be realized.

The final chapter of this same book, aptly titled Results, is totally succinct but the author still takes time to reiterate that only action begets results. He says

Dream as you will, plan and analyze. But while you dream, remember that only action leads to results. Cleverness and strength that does not result in action, knowledge that does not lead to better methods is dead stock.

Action always begets results... Results are your only reality.

Finally, Carolyn Arends reminds us that life continues to slip away just like hour-glass sand. For that reason, we need to seize the day. Otherwise, we may end up like the following miserable man.

I know a man who’s been doing some thinking
He’s as bitter and cold as the whiskey he’s drinking
He’s talking ‘bout fear, about chances not taken
If you listen to him you can hear his heart breaking
He says, “One day you’re a boy and the next day you’re dead
I wish way back when someone had said…

…Seize the day – seize whatever you can
‘Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day – pray for grace from God’s hand
Then nothing will stand in your way
Seize the day

I'm a Human Being. Period.

I'm this, not that.
I've always wondered why we need to keep trying to belong to this and not that. We try so hard to establish a difference, proclaim it and whenever possible, exploit our position of advantage to the detriment of those who do not belong.

Here's an example in my case:
I'm a human being, not an animal.
I'm a man, not a woman.
I'm an African, not Caucasian, Asian or any other race.
I'm a Kenyan, not just an African in other fifty-something countries.
I'm Kikuyu, do not belong to other Kenyan tribes which exceed forty...

... and the list goes on and on.

Beyond Difference

When I recently mentioned Karen Armstrong's TED wish that called for the formation of a Charter for Compassion, the overriding mission of that carter is [in part]

transcends religious, ideological, and national difference. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter activates the Golden Rule around the world.

That said, it still defeats me why we totally love to glorify our difference from, and perceived advantages over, other people. In fact, some of the worst atrocities in human history were carried out on the premise that other were different. For example, the crusades were against anyone and everyone who didn't subscribe to the faith. The Holocaust was predicated on the superiority of the Aryan race, and therefore considered other races, especially the Jewish race as unworthy of life.

Admittedly, it is important to belong to something because that way, we can find common purpose with those who are like-minded like ourselves.
Without opposing teams, there would be no competition. The same is unfortunately the reason many wars are fought.

In his 2008 TED Talk, Jonathan Haidt emphasized that every human being inherently think s/he is right.




We possess "righteous minds" which ultimately

- unite us into teams
- divide us against other teams
- blind us to the truth

That is the main reason we are seldom objective even in matters where we have no direct interest.

Just Being Human

Can we simply remain human beings? It is my humble opinion that when we only see others as other human beings who are in no way less deserving that ourselves, we can respect others and see that which is good in them.

In 2006, Alexander Nderitu penned The Golden Man, a poem that continually reminds me that it is indeed possible to transcend racial, religious, geographical and other difference... to simply see humanity as one...

...the Golden Man is without colour;
He knows that racism is ignorance and doesn’t bother
With petty prejudices, seeing humanity as one.

Are all these divisions necessary?
Kindly share your thoughts.