I have been writing since the early 1980s, but my work was first published in the year 2000. It was an inspirational/motivational book titled "HOW TO HANDLE OFFENCES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS: overcoming the rough edges of life".
It was not by any means an award winner, but it contained a very powerful message that had a positive resonance in the heart of almost all that read it. It circulated far and wide, as people passed it around from person to person, and I received positive feedback from around the World.
One of those that were positively touched by this little book was an African migrant that was imprisoned in France. She got a copy from a friend who is a sister to my protege, the irrepressible Ahmed Magem. Ahmed had sent his sister a few copies.
This prisoner told me, in a letter she wrote to me after reading the book, how she had given up hope on a meaningful life because of the many offences and disappointments that life had thrown in her path. When she read my book, fresh hope rose in her and the fire of a productive and meaningful life was kindle in her heart. She recommitted herself to living positively.
Another woman, a rather saintly woman, whose world was destroyed when her highly popular husband was implicated in a murder case and thrown behind bars, leaving her and her children in a dazing maze of fear and confusion, got a copy of the book and went through it. I do not know how she got the book, but she told me how the book gave her hope and motivated her to remain positive and sweet, believing that her husband will be vindicated and set free. She found strength in the face of weakness, courage in the face of challenge and faith in the face of hopelessness. She stood her ground in faith and her husband was eventually vindicated and released.
Many such stories of how this little book positively impacted the lives of people abound. Up to this day, 20 years after it was released, I still run into people who tell me what a blessing the book has been to them.
I remember lifting two middle aged men several months ago. I had closed from office and was driving out of the Government House when I met them walking the long distance to the main gate under the scorching Jimeta Sun. They both introduced themselves as soon as they entered the car. We got talking and one of them began to thank me for changing his life. I was lost a bit as I have never met the fellow, as far as I could recall, until that moment. He opened his handbag and brought out two of my books. One of them was this little book we are talking about. He told me that those books made such powerful impact on his life such that he decided to carry them around in his briefcase!
Why am I telling you all this?
Simply this: you do not have to wait for perfect conditions to do what is right or what will bless humanity. I wrote this little book, that has become such a blessing, under the most imperfect conditions. All I had in my favour was the inspiration and determination to write and carry through to the logical conclusion.
Come to think about it; is there really any such thing as "perfect conditions" for one to do what needs to be done? The answer is an emphatic NO! You just do what you have got to do with what you have got, despite the conditions. Otherwise, you never get to do anything worthwhile.
When I wrote my first book, my circumstances and conditions in life were far from perfect. My family and I (Rosabel wasn't born yet and Christabel was in early elementary school) were living in a single room with no furnishing, except a big foam on the ground on one side of the room and a clothes hangar hanging on the wall on the other side. We had a single upright chair, which was a sort of a hand-me-down that I got from my friend Zethan Hellon when he was leaving Lagos, and no table. We cooked our frugal meals using a small kerosine stove and the barest of utensils. We lived on hope for a better day, fired by faith in a God that can do all things.
How did I write?
Femi Boyede, an international businessman and an expert in the import/export sector of the Nigerian economy, had heard me speak and asked if I had published any of my works. I answered in the negative. There and then he promised to sponsor the printing of any of my works as soon as I was ready to publish. The ball was in my court. It was up to me to get one of my many manuscripts ready for publishing. I decided not to miss this chance.
I opted to write a fresh book. Despite the fact that the conditions were not favourable, I did my research, gathered material and started writing. I had no computer (laptops were few in circulation back then) and no internet connectivity. GSM was trying to find its feet in Nigeria. Precious few people had those heavy cell phones.
I wrote seating on that single straight-back chair, with a pillow on my laps, a hardcover higher education exercise book on the pillow, providing firmness for the 80-leafs exercise book into which I wrote. There was no fan, talk less of air conditioning, so I sweated profusely as I worked. Many times, I took off my shirt and vest and worked bare-chested. It was anything but comfortable, but I kept going, day after day, until I was done. Then I took it to Mr. Boyede. He kept his promise and the rest, as they say, is history.
One of the illusions that deprive us the chance to do great things is the thinking that conditions are not perfect, therefore, we will wait until conditions get perfect. They never get perfect, at least not in time for us to do what we wanted to do. We lose our chance in the waiting. What we eventually gain is regret.
Let me draw your attention to two important facts of life that you need to understand and utilize if you plan on doing well in life:
1. Use what you have, no matter how small it is, to get what you need and not wait for what you need before you exert yourself.
Those who wait for perfect conditions never arrive the Promised Land.
2. Take the chances with which you are presented in life. Do not ever allow chances to pass you by. Do something about them. And, if the conditions are not favourable, do not roll over and give up; create favourable circumstances.
Remember: no good thing ever come easy. "Easy" is the denominator that underlines mediocrity and failure. Those who rise above "easy" master the realms of excellence and abundance. Go beyond your comfort zone and create greatness in life. Take your chances in life, as they come.
Let me leave you with three quotes about taking chances that you will find very useful:
1. "The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it." - Debbi Fields.
2. “You learn so much from taking chances, whether they work out or not. Either way, you can grow from the experience and become stronger and smarter." - John Legend.
3. “Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave." - Mary Tyler Moore.
You are created for excellence. Make the best use of what you have to get what you need. Do not wait for perfect conditions. Take your chances by challenging your circumstances. Create your world. Define your value. Be a blessing.
You can do it!
It is all within you!
It is Agoso Bamaiyi, your friend for a greater Nigeria and the best things of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment