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Taking Life Head On
"We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve." - Maxwell Maltz in Psycho-Cybernetics (1960) I have always taken life head on because I had no choice. I got an early jolt inlife when, barely eight, I lost my father. Since then, life has been a struggle.I was raised by my mother, a widow who had neither education nor financialmeans, but a big heart. My mother is a wonderful woman. She trained andprotected me. I greatly benefited from the bottomless wealth of her wisdom. Mymother instilled in me sound moral and spiritual values and the virtue of hardwork. She made me believe that the keys to success are hard work and faith in God. My mother is the single most enduring and profound influence on my life. Shesold her properties to send my late brother and I to school. Her goals were simple; she wanted me to make something of myself, go places she did not dare dream of, so that her toil on me would not be in vain. Hence when I left secondary school I vowed to succeed in life. That promise has been my driving force. Barely 10 years old, I had acquired the thirst to achieve greatness from selling iced water and biscuits on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria to support my mother. The best thing that happened to me was growing up 'on the other side of thetrack,' without the privilege of wealthy parents. Anything I wanted, I had tohustle and scrape for. Far from a drawback, this was a definite advantage forme. Today I thank God because those times have been confined to history. However,there were times when I believed the words of a Nigerian songwriter which says, 'I'vebeen down so long it looked like up to me'. At no point in my life did I thinkit was going to be easy. When I followed my lovely wife to the labour room during the birth of ourdaughter few months ago, I realised that even bringing a child to life is not easy. I experienced a whole range of emotions; from relief, fear, anxiety, nostalgia, to excitement, but certainly not ease. I suggest that instead of waiting for life to give you an easy path, you enterthe flow of life and take it as it comes to you, understanding that there willbe challenging times and also good times. During prosperous times you shouldexpect adversity, because that is the nature of life. You need to have faith to be able to face the challenges of life. Rather thanraise the white flag of surrender, lash out in anger or take the path of leastresistance, we can rise up to the challenge and meet it head on with faith in God. Marcus Garvey once said, "Some of us seem to accept the fatalist position, thefatalist attitude, that the creator accorded to us a certain position andcondition and therefore there is no need trying to be otherwise." Writers Dennis Kimbro and Napoleon Hill, who wrote about black men responding to challenges said in their: 'Brotherman', that: 'In everyone's life there comes a time of ultimate challenge - a time when all our resources are tested. A time lifeseems unfair. A time when our faith, our values, our patience, our compassionand our ability to persist are pushed to the limit and beyond. Some have usedsuch tests as opportunities for growth; others have turned away and allowed theseexperiences to destroy their hopes.' If you are ever confronted by a situation that seems daunting, the only thing to do is to hold on to your faith and determination. As a member of Jaycees International, a worldwide leadership development organisation between 1990 and 1995, I cherished the first creed of the club which says: "Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life." This is indeed true. Kris Akabusi, the former Commonwealth gold medallist, said in his biography: "Work hard to achieve all you can, but ultimately without God you won't find meaning and satisfaction in life." Our faith in God sees us through many obstacles in life. Life would throw so many things in our paths. They are the milestones that makethe journey meaningful and the events that not only shape our lives but also help us in achieving our goals. Today that boy who hawked on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria when he was barely 10 years old, who gate-crashed into the launching of Tera Kota's first album in Nigeria - 'Lamentation For Sodom' in 1982, has become a man, feet firmly on the way to his dream, propelled by a mother's gruelling determination and his faith in God. When the going gets tough and the situation looks uncertain, be notafraid; trudge along. Hold on to your faith with the buoyant and divine assurance that all will be well. See you at the top soon! Dayo Olomu is a UK-based Motivational Speaker, Writer, Business/Life Coach, Trainer, Media Entrepreneur and Competent Toastmaster. His core belief is that we are all endowed with seeds of greatness, and his mission is to help individuals and organisations achieve their full potentials. He is the author of best selling "4 Indispensable Strategies for Success" and the President of Croydon Communicators Toastmasters. Get his FREE monthly Rise to the Top ezine by sending a blank email to subscribe@dayoolomu.com or visit his website at: www.dayoolomu.com
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news News Corp exec becomes chief of Germany's Premiere (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp's chief financial officer for Europe and Asia has been named chief executive of German pay television group Premiere, following the resignation of Michael Boernicke, Premiere said on Wednesday. News Corporation to redevelop London Wapping site (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is to redevelop its Wapping site in London, moving all its UK businesses, including News International, Harper Collins, MySpace and Dow Jones, under one roof. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI) Chesney nominated for 7 CMAs ... Hoffman: I'm not playing Penguin ... 'RocknRolla' No. 1 at U.K. box office ... Jessica Simpson stops song on 'GMA' ... News from United Press International. DailyMe: News tailored to your individual tastes (The Christian Science Monitor) Column: Custom news websites come and go, but this one gets it right. Sarah Palin docu wins record ratings for Fox News (Reuters via Yahoo! News) In a week of records surrounding the Republican National Convention, Fox News Channel earned another one with its weekend documentary on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. MySpace ad business ahead of target: News Corp (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp's (NWSa.N) MySpace advertising business is operating ahead of expectations and its digital ad business is performing better than the marketplace, the company's chief operating officer said on Tuesday. STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Erdemir shares fall on iron ore prices (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News) STOCKS NEWS Reuters Results diary News Buzz: Recreating the Big Bang, Gates Urges Slow Iraq Drawdown, Ike Gains Strength (US News & World Report) Top news from the Associated Press For consumers, good news down the line (Sun-Sentinel) Whether you buy a new iPod or not, there may be good news for you in Apple's release of new iPods on Tuesday . Fox News Vaults To Top Of Primetime Ratings (MultiChannel News) Who says no one watches political conventions? Fox News Channel?s coverage of GOP Presidential nominee John McCain?s Sept. 4 acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention drew 9.2 million viewers, topping all other basic cable shows last week, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Site: news - Google News News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA - New York Times
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for inspirational Inspirational Experts in Fashion, Cuisine and Lifestyle to Share Tips and Trends at Orange County Head to Toe Women's ... (PRWeb) Southern California's premiere women's consumer show, the Head to Toe Women's Expo returns to OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., October 10, 11 and 12, 2008. Presented by Ralphs Grocery, the Head to Toe Women's Expo gives mothers, daughters, and girlfriends a chance to reconnect during a weekend of shopping, pampering, makeovers and inspirational speakers. Several experts, ... http://firepit-plans.com Introduces "The Fire Pit Planner Guide" a Comprehensive Inspirational Guide to Building ... (PRWeb via Yahoo! News) http://firepit-plans.com is a new site that offers a unique do-it-yourself inspirational plan to building fire pits, the guide offers tips and advice on operating and constructing fire pits in the outdoors, house garden or backyard. Reporter's Notebook (Dallas Morning News) Certain parts of Irving City Hall will soon be getting makeovers. Residents and visitors can expect to see inspirational quotes on walls and prominent displays of the city?s mission statement within a couple of months. Bob Walter: Iraq hero gets moving tribute in Elk Grove Park (The Sacramento Bee) For a hero: As if anybody could forget Joe Nurre of Wilton, a fitting and permanent memorial to the inspirational Elk Grove High School football captain is attracting plenty of attention in Elk Grove Park. Joe Nurre A plaque dedicates an Elk Grove barbecue area to Joe Nurre. MCC Honors 9/11 Victims and Families (R News) Monroe Community College hosted a special 9/11 commemorative ceremony at the Remembrance Walk on the Brighton campus. The hour long event included music, inspirational speeches, a moment of silence and flowers placed at the base of the 9/11 monument there. Local review: 'Bill W. and Dr. Bob' entertaining, educational (The Pantagraph) For a gripping evening of theater as educational as it is inspirational, ?Bill W. and Dr. Bob? at Heartland Theatre Company, can?t be beat. Steve Amerson to Sing at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Convention (Christian News Wire) DENVER, Sept. 11 / Christian Newswire / -- Steve Amerson, well-known Inspirational music artist will be singing at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Annual Convention, A Celebration of Honor, in Denver, Colorado at the "Patriots Award Gala" on Friday, September 19, 2008. Radio pirate suspect arrested in Wilton Manors apartment (Sun-Sentinel) When you tune into FM 103.9 in Broward County , you're supposed to hear a sermon by Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Pastor Bob Coy or inspirational music from the likes of Mercy Me and Steven Curtis Chapman. Randolph Reads kicks off with celebration (Asheboro Courier-Tribune) ASHEBORO ? A Randolph County initiative to unite the community in reading and discussing an inspirational non-fiction book about a nearby town?s struggles with change is under way. Honor Text Helps Americans to Remember (WCAV Charlottesville) The clock strikes 9:11am and your phone beeps, but it?s not your average text message. Instead, it?s an Honor Text, a brief inspirational message about some of America?s service men and women. Site: inspirational - Google News Gerard Lucien Gaudreau, inspirational speaker - Baltimore Sun
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