Having A Choice, Say or Both😌: the sequel

"Keep practicing Jeff, keep practicing and you'd be good at it" I can recall my mother telling me whenever I failed to completely lace my sneakers. I'd often do it haphazardly in link to how I remembered her doing it for me prior to leaving for school 😂.

 Truly with practice, I got soo good at it that I didn't need her verification as to if I did it right or not before stepping out. Here the neuroscientist will tell you that neuroplasticity has occurred; also known as brain plasticity is the process where the brain modifies it's connections after the alteration of neural pathways and it's synapses. This happens when there has been an influence resulting from an environmental, behavioural or neural change. Basically your brain has been re-wired to accommodate what has been learnt.

 With even more practice, you minimize indecisiveness or rewire your brain if I should say till what you seek to assimilate, becomes embedded in your subconscious. This is the level you should aspire to achieve if you want to have a say over situations or occurrences in your life.
 Much like me as a child where I didn't have a say over how my laces were done, it was only after practicing that I elevated towards having a say. Nonetheless instead of shoe laces or something less momentous, use this analogy in synchonity with life choices. Choices that you've been reluctant towards taking because you know you can't live with the aftermath yet you're screaming within to take it. Your brain doesn't appreciate indecisiveness as it "takes orders from you".

The whole idea is to be as less indecisive as possible, accepting the fallout from having made wrong choices but not living to reenact them. To learn from each wrong choice you make to the point of when even being faced with two terrible choices, you'd be able to pick the less terrible amongst the two and live by it.  Do not misconstrue me but taking risks without indecisiveness is totally different from making hasty decisions. In the sense that, one makes you learn lessons while the other leaves you utterly disappointed with or without possible chance at coming back.

Afterall one should be comfortable being uncomfortable for life in this world is a great struggle.

Do check back later for new posts and don't forget to share😄. Have a blissful day❤

Having a Choice, Say or Both 😌

If you are not familiar with E40's song, choices then you'd probably be acquainted with that of Sarkodie's Hand to Mouth. In this piece of music the rapper talks about what he did or does with his earnings. From buying lands, putting up real estate which aggregates the basic idea of wisely investing and bagging of assets to knowing when to "treat yo' self". This of which he believes should be the calibre of thinking every growing adult should possess.

Its a choice to take up or do away with what he articulates but he advises that you do take it up so you get to treat yo' self when the time is right.

It's one thing to have a choice, another to have a say or even both when a situation or circumstance arises. Whichever you're faced with, I want you to cognize that there lies a clear line of distinction which when identified, helps to make you connect the dots easily as some seem to have done with their lives.

You should fathom that it all starts from somewhere, in this case the first level which'd be being limited to having choices. We're faced with having to make choices at every single second and or turn in our lives. From choosing what pattern to observe when we wake up in the morning to even how we'd want to have a delicacy done so that we can attain that happiness from having achieved a desireable taste.

Our choices are often made consciously or with nescience and will most definitely have consequential or inadvertent repercussions. James Van Praagh said and I quote,

"I believe life is just a series of decisions we make, and depending on our choice, must live with the result of that decision". 

If we for certain can't live with the aftermath of the choices we make as humans to live our lives, then we cannot live this life.

 Mr. van Praagh goes on to say that the choices we usually make consist of a multitude of possibilities and, whether real or imagined, we must recognize that in some way the decision will change our life forever.

" As a result of there being so many factors involved with our decision-making and with its unknown result, many of us hesitate to even make a choice, thinking it would be safer and that we’d be better off where we are instead of delving into the unknown. Just think of the number of events in history that would never have occurred if someone did not make the choice to do something different, unknown, unproved or un-experienced? How many relationships would never have been realized without making a particular choice?" ~ Choices in Life, James Van Praagh

I'd entreat you to ponder over this as we prepare to enjoy our weekend while destressing and recuperating for the week that awaits us. Take care of yourself and know that God loves you❤.


Do check back next week for the continuation of this post on Having a Choice, Say or both.

Positivity👌🏾

  It takes a lot of strength and in some cases self control in trying to see someone’s view point on the need to think positively after one has been at the behest of back-to-back impediments. At the onset it only fuels rage because you feel the person doesn't have the slightest of ideas as to how you’re feeling or even going through. 

   They may be deficient in the two factors which have led to you being clouded by your  thoughts but the words or advice they articulate are ones that offer a stretching arm of help through those dark clouds which hung over your head – but there’s a catch.

Being mentally positive isn’t like taking some sort of neurologically manipulative serum to induce a state of equilibrium in one’s neurochemistry thereby making you impervious to the emotional turmoil that’s associated with the aftermath of experiencing hindrances. 

It’s more of a process which you can start today.  To the best of my knowledge, there are no standard steps to take to achieve this but we can map out something for ourselves, tailor it to suit our needs so we become better if not passionate and or persistent.

Someone once said, “Thinking positively isn’t about expecting the best to happen every time but accepting that whatever happens is best for the moment”.   Truly if we can hold on tenaciously to this sort of mantra whenever we’re faced with setbacks, I can be very certain that we’d witness the rise in a new breed of humans showing resilience in both the mental and attitude aspect..

Believe and make a conscious effort to tell yourself that no matter how bad it is or how bad it is going to get, you’re going to make it because greater is He that is in you than he that is of the world (1^st John 4:4)

Love❤️, a Feeling or Choice?

So I found this on Tumblr and goodness gracious did it shine some light of perspective unto the issue of love being either a feeling or choice. I can only hope that after reading this, you find much lucidity in this too.

“ - Is love a feeling or a choice?

We were all a bunch of teenagers and so naturally we said it was a feeling. She said if we clung to that belief, we’d never have a lasting relationship of any sort.

She made us interview a dozen adults who were or had been married and made us ask them why it lasted or failed. At the end I asked them if love was an emotion or a choice.

Everybody said it was a choice

It was a conscious commitment

It was something you choose to make every day with someone who has chosen the same thing. They all said that at one point in their marriage, the “feeling of love” had vanished or faded and they weren’t happy.  They said feelings are always changing and one cannot build something on such shaky foundation.

The married ones said when things were bad, they chose to open the communication, identifying what broke and how to fix it by recreating something worth falling in love with.

The divorced ones said they chose to walk away

Ever since that class, that project, I never looked at relationships the same way.

I understood why arranged marriages were successful; I discovered the differences in feelings and commitments.

I’ve never gone for the person who makes my heart flutter or my head spin. I’ve chosen the people who were committed to choosing me, dedicated towards finding something to adore even 

on the ugliest days

I no longer fear the day someone who swore I was their universe can no longer see the stars in my eyes as long as they choose to find them again”

Who is your friend? 🤔

 " I want you to take a moment and think of all the things that define your life, all the people you love, your job, your co-workers etc. Now imagine that in a flash, all of these were taken from you; will you just accept your new life and move on or fight for what you've lost?"

-Culled from Barry Allen, The Flash

  Someone once told me, "Your life actually starts when you meet the right people and at the right time. It may be quite hard to tell whom the right people are and when the right time is. At the onset, you find yourself doing things for them which you'd logically not do. But just because they fill a certain void in you, you subconsciously accept them as the right people". Based on personal experiences, I've realized that when one is engulfed with the right people, it induces an inexplicable happiness and not that kind of happiness which results from happenings. One which lasts long enough to keep you afloat till the silver lining in that cloud is discovered.

  In recent times the word or title "friend", whichever way you'd want to call it is thrown about easily. Making us prey to being hurt and extremely vulnerable or one could see it as learning curve where an invaluable lesson is learnt. One which can warp and or change our entire perspective of whom a friend is to us. Nevertheless, we shouldn't allow such lessons to harden our hearts but be receptive towards being informed.

It took me long enough for the dawn of realization to hit me pertaining the identity of whom a friend is or even more a defining moment as to if the person is a friend or someone you just know. Mind you the two are not the same and as such, I ask you today, do you know who your legit friends are?

The answer to this question is imperative to your well being, answer wisely. Enjoy your day!

Reboot 🍃

*long pause*

I've had this coming for a long time and it is about time I got right to it. I just didn't know when it was going to be but then I guess, when you've had once maybe too many epiphanies, one ought to pay attention. Unless you're too broke to do that😂.

So a reboot..  basically, I've always wanted to cause a positive stir with what I do and or write. The daunting factor of what exactly to write about is that which has left me pondering enough to realize that Theodore Roosevelt of blessed memory was absolutely right when he advised and I quote, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" .

I'd ascribe this reinvigorated series of posts to come to Teddy's quote I aforementioned. Thanks Ted!

I sincerely hope you'd find them well inspiring, informed .. *runs out of adjectives* urm you know the rest. Enjoy your day! 👌

The Mind of a Game Changer IV

A great philosopher once said, “The pen is mightier than the sword” An adage which has been known for so many decades and of which has been the weapon for almost all intellects from their arsenal of tools when called upon to mediate issues. A weapon which aides them to emancipate and inform the populace on the essence of having being educated. This I believe was part of the numerous reasons why  people like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, J. E Kwegyir-Aggrey, J. Mensah-Sarbah (all of blessed memory) just to name a few, advocated for such a course. This then led to the present system of education we have in the country although several adjustments have been made to suit changing times. But then I ask, have these changes really reflected the motive some nationalists back in the era of the Gold Coast dreamt of?
Education is said to have impacted someone when it moves them physically and mentally such that it leads to unexpected discoveries. Sitting on the fence and waiting to be told what to do after having acquired knowledge rather seems absurd due to the fact that the learner is expected to put to use what they have gotten a hold of.  It’s rather unfortunate that what I just stated seems to be the order of the day most often due to the kind of system we have now and its perspective it comes with.
For knowledge to be useful to both country and oneself, it ought to be assembled and obtained by the learner (actively) than received hook line and sinker from the tutor or lecturer. Hence it is given the name, “spoon feeding” way of teaching and learning. The error usually begins from the elementary through to secondary and still continues in the tertiary level because the aspect of education which is characterized by the stimulation and provision for exploration or discovery as well as importantly, action is absent. The system rather teaches us to be well guarded by the so called traditional education’s “correct answers”; not knowing that this weighs heavily against the use of creativity and innovation (the essential ingredient for unexpected discoveries).
True meaning is made out of acquired knowledge when we are able to connect what we learn by our thoughts and curiosities and not through the version of the marker or chalk wielded instructor. Ideally, it is the responsibility of the learner to make multiple meanings from their thinking through deliberate efforts by being a critical thinker and doer as knowledge is being imparted. This then allows the learner to extract multiple viewpoints on themes, texts and concepts. This skill allows clear reasoning which supports one’s interpretation of life itself by considering alternate and diverse views.
Humans are biologically creatures of habit and as such do not easily breakaway from a way of life. A learner who is literally raised to sit and prepare for exams only to discard the information stored will find it difficult to change as against the one puts into practice what they have been taught.  It is quite clear that useful knowledge comes from experience and experience is earned from working. Blatantly the one literally trained to sit for almost 16 years won’t be able to boast of doing “work” hence not having experience as against the other type of learner who’d have acquired some form of experience from the little work they do every now and then. Should these two class of learners graduate, one will always expect things to be in a certain pattern (like waiting on the government in getting them employed etc) whiles the other category of learner will go out there and create that pattern because they have that useful knowledge which they acquired from and experience they got from “working”. One can say, every graduate sure have something to offer to the nation. They just don’t know what. Like
a friend once said to me, “GPA and grades look good on paper; Translating those practically is what guarantees one a job”
What then can those caught up in this rat race of expecting things to be done in a certain pattern do? They can start of by updating their attitudes to leverage their talents with the time on hands since they can’t go back in time to reverse the errors done. It’s what you do now that counts and can amend your concept of life.
Secondly, a man without a goal or objective is like a blind man gallivanting on a land mine. One needn’t be a rocket scientist to know what is going to happen to such a person. This then throws more light on the reason why everyone ought to have a realistic objective(s) in life. Else our fate will be like that of the blind man walking on a land mine.
Thirdly, society since time immemorial has been bombarded with soaring unemployment percentage figures. What has anyone really done about this? Instead graduands rather add up to this menace than solving it. We ought to find a societal issue that is dear to our hearts and make conscious effort to solve them. Maybe not alone but with other people who share the same philosophy as we do.
Fourth, we should always keep an open mind to issues and suggestions and be ready to even change our initial viewpoint about something we may have spoken or thought otherwise of. It is through this that we’d always be ready to learn something every single day whiles applying on the go.
Fifth, the art of listening more than we speak should be learnt. This allows one to be more attentive than a loose mouth in any situation. The same goes for speaking up and doing less of the listening. One should be able to do this interchangeably.
Sixth, be prepared to go the extra mile in life or in anything one does as well as step out of one’s comfort zone to help others in need.
Seventh, we seem to be forgetting our health not bearing in mind that all this is surely going take a toll on us. Eating right, having enough rest and exercising just to mention a few so as to keep in shape is definitely the right way of living.
Eighth, as famously it has been observed by renowned physicist, Albert Einstein. Only the one who devotes himself to a cause with all his strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason one should be willing to give in their all.
Finally I wish everyone all the best in their quest to being game changers and be an ambassador living in the positive influence got from parents, teachers, friends etc.

Its Still In The Pipeline👌🏾

    We're often faced with challenges once we set off  pursuing a goal. Funny  enough, we face same  when there is no goal on the radar. Challenges of varying magnitude but with a common trajectory of derailing you off the tracks. At this point, the uniqueness of every living being is appreciated. Since individually, we'd employ assorted ways of stepping up to the gauntlet we've been drawn into.

    Ever heard of the saying and I quote, "Opportunities come but once in a life time."? Mm.. Its probably one of the most heard catchphrases as one grows. But here is the fun fact ladies and gentlemen, the game never changed unlike its players. Hence the saying "Don't hate the player, hate the game." There is always a choice in life no matter how or what the circumstances may be. Its all up to you to decide. But the million dollar question is -  What do you want?

"If opportunities don't knock at your door, its because your struggle with challenges broke them off; Build a new door!"

     I guess you could render so many answers to that question. But what have you done in your capacity to achieve it? This is due to the fact there are certain things in life we can't have by just thinking about it in the shower or wishing for it to come. I know the most difficult thing to do is act; the rest is merely tenacity. But like I said, its a decision you'd have to make if you still have the answer to the million dollar question I asked. Its hard, I know. Nobody promised it was going to be easy either. All you've got is your guts and wits to make things turn around. This is it people! Sink in it or swim through😌

     Sometimes not getting what you want could be a wonderful stroke of luck but that doesn't mean you shouldn't Redesign📏✏, Rebuild🔧🔨 and Reclaim👊🏾✌🏾. Its what you make outta it that counts. Make a choice today and act upon it.

An Illusion II💭

   

      It appeared that the Queen👸 was far from her King👑 and undoubtedly, the long run of their empire was bound to come to an abrupt end. Lingering on his next move, he couldn’t muse, but conjectured the safety of his Queen👸. She is worth being sacrificed for but that’d mean the kingdom will fall. It was a chess game invented in hell. The kings and pawns irrevocably at odds, unable to eliminate one another without a breakthrough that could destroy them both.

   I was stuck and knowing blatantly that her next move could be a checkmate; it wasn’t hard to tell that she is a maestro in the game of chess😏. “Wishful thinking will take you nowhere AJ, Start acting😌”she uttered softly as she sipped on an exotic orange juice. Had it been on actual battlegrounds, it would have been an “embarrassment” to surrender to a foe and much worse to the ego of a man to a female😖😑. From the way I saw it, a cunning diversion😜 could be my salvation. Except, she was too smart to fall for that.

“Checkmate👌!.. And the crowd goes wild🎆😄😋”, she mimicked the voice of a stadium announcer. Technically she had to wait for me to make my move or throw in the towel; she knew the drill.

  The enemy literally had declared victory; another game lost.  At this point, an ambiguous intensity of locked gazes ensued. It was invasive and vulnerable yet these sentiments were simultaneously felt. A 3 year old could even tell that. The atmosphere could be described with one word, AWKWARD😂!  

                                                                   

                                          *rewinds tape📼*

“Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning”

Hold it! The answer to your question is, don’t even think about it😂😂. In my mind’s eye, that’d have been plausible. Nonetheless, I’m either to go with it or snap out of it. After the brief encounter that day and with no name whatsoever, Operation Gather Intel still remains entirely hypothetical.

Where do I start?

What queries do I enter to search for??

There are lots of questions but fewer or no answers.  Wherever you are, I’d definitely find you 😊😊

In The Void 🍃

     If it had a location, then I'd have made it my haven. Due to the fact that it is a realm in which time and reality are rendered meaningless. I could perhaps gain full control of it all because nothing can be quantified there. But nonetheless if the old adage is still as true as the God that I serve, then what doesn't kill me makes me stronger. Stepping back and forth like a boxer ready to launch a ferocious punch, I don't see any other way out but a knockout punch to end this torture.

                       
          "Enter into the void, drop everything and become wind 🌾"

  

     In this place, it’s just you and your mind; leading the remaining elements of your body against our thoughts which we're prisoners of.  It'd have been worth it being in that jail if it were the Jail County of Light but it’s the dark side most often. It’s in this place that I found who I am because I forgot who they told me to be. Giving more meaning to Oscar Wilde’s “Circumstances don’t make you who you are but reveal who you are”. Most importantly, you’d know the uncharted benefit of this place after you realize one imperative fact of life. There’d be moments which marks our lives, moments when we realize that nothing will ever be the same no matter how often it is replicated and time is divided into two parts; before this and after this.

An Illusion 💭💮

It was only a matter of seconds for me to realize that the blades of the fan were waning from the original speed I regulated it to before sleeping. The popular ‘Dumsor’ phenomenon was at its usual but it picked the wrong time to pay me a visit. This will mean I have to put up with the music being made by the saxophone playing mosquitoes that always wait for golden opportunities like this. How annoying again could a long day get?

I made my way out of the room and onto the balcony so as to catch some fresh air – the new environment, much better.  “What a way to crown a long tiring day” I thought to myself as I took my shirt off.  The night’s sky was clear, revealing the luminous bodies that now provided me with light to enable vision through the compound.  Intrigued by the numerous figures I could make out of the position of the stars, I found something to keep me occupied for a while before sleep came knocking at my door. Memories unfolded as if I had issued a command to the brain to play me a slideshow. First, the water splash, then of course my wallet not being in my pocket; found it in my other trouser. Likewise having to deal with this lady who kept talking aloud into a phone, boy! I have to see an ear specialist. But then there was one, perhaps the one moment that complimented the ordeal I went through.

“The Encounter” as I tagged it was the last on the slides. Somehow my subconscious mind reserved the best for the last. Setting, breeze and thinking pattern was just right for the reminiscence. It happened out of the blue and at a pace which assimilating it would have caused a computer to deploy countless reboot sequences.  First impressions they say count and I’d have concluded on her attitude as being unreceptive or she perhaps had zero tolerance for first time convos. Nonetheless the shortly built profile I created of her in my mind had made an infiltration into my system.

“First impression they, say always count”

“I think one needn’t be an artist to know that matte black is your favorite colour” I uttered as I turned to face her but she had her earpiece plugged in.  Agile as her eyes were, she realized that I said something so she took out the earpiece to clear her doubts. “Did you say something?” she asked with complete innocence and in the pressure room of my mind, it was an opportunity to rephrase my unheard statement to get a conversation going. “Was just asking if matte black is your fav colour” I reiterated in a much a simpler form.

“Well uh yeah.. Why do you ask?”

“Out of observation”

“Intriguing.. What else have you observed so far?”

“Urm until now, nothing else.. But I hope to do more the next time I see you”

She smiled it off and that was pretty much of a “conversation”.  One thing was for sure, I’m now on a mission.

Front Row

I always had an inexplicable phobia to be at the front row of any gathering. It was something which had existed since time immemorial. Where it was from? – I just can’t tell.  The front row is a place I’d not really want to sit at yet aspire to be number one. How then can I literally grasp an opportunity if I had an irrational fear pertinent to front rows? Nevertheless it didn’t wane the urge to stand out so that when someone asked of me, they’d be told I’m outstanding.

Exactly, the front row where many just like will not want to sit at unless there existed an extraordinary force..*sips coffee from the saucer plated cup*. But then of course all will depend on the motive with which the individual comes with towards the “extraordinary force”.

There was a time during a seminar where a sensational speaker, after rendering to the congregation a remarkable speech decided to give out a book. It was written by one of his all time favorite author; Robert Ludlum. Coincidentally Shaun's sister happened to be a big fan of the author’s books but that particular book was the last masterpiece she needed to complete her collection of Ludlum’s books. It was unfortunate for Shaun who was seated in the midsection of the listeners but fortunate for the lucky girl who managed to whisk it out of the speaker’s hand before he could finish his question. Blatantly, she wouldn’t have gotten that book if she allowed her phobia of sitting at the front row take a hold of her. The good news is that, Shaun has the choice of changing his perception about sitting at the front row but will that be the same in the situation of those of who have made it a  life philosophy?

 Life may not offer you as many opportunities as the real world will to be at seminars where you can choose to be at the midsection of the audience at one point and after learning a lesson like Shaun, move to the front row the next time. Giving more meaning to the catchphrase, “Opportunities comes but once in a life time”. Seize every opportunity to be odd so that you can be number one. 

"Get Goaling"

 It all starts when we begin to ask if it really matters. One question which we do not ask at the initial stage but when asked, heightens neural activity within the human body. It is only until then that our brain will begin to segregate our needs from wants. We’ve been left to be obliterated by what we want now forgetting that it’d only be a matter of time before that strong urge wanes.

 At some point, many will conclude that time will tell. How is it literally going to tell when it is not read properly? Or will one have to wait till he realizes that the time, he has been waiting for to “tell” has been wasted? Time they say waits for no man; a continuous measuring quantity which everyone, by default, is given the same magnitude each day. 

"Time doesn't tell, you must read it properly"

Making judicious use of this treasure coupled with requisite factors like hardwork and resilience will certainly elevate you to a point where you’d rub shoulders with the successful in society. I guess one needn’t be a rocket scientist to know the dire repercussions if we do otherwise.

 Before the whole time management philosophy, set a clear line between your needs and wants. It is only through this that the destination becomes definite. It is also imperative to write out ideas whenever they flash across the inner screen of your mind. Who knows, it could be the solution to a problem many out-of-the-world intellects have adjudged to be impossible to get to the bottom of. Once these ideas are written down, it becomes a goal; a purpose or aim everyone seeks to accomplish within a certain time frame. A goal coming into the scene means there’d have to be a plan. Don’t do the planning alone, involve God in it. Following this plan to realize a goal as a result of an idea written down will soon become an accomplishment. Looks easy huh? It won’t be any more when the wants you set aside draws you into a gauntlet. The battle will be set, wars will be waged and like in the game of baseball, you’d have to fix your gaze onto the pitcher whom with his gesticulations, will try to beat your intelligence. Bearing in mind that each strike will bring you close to a home run, the rest is left to the full precise swing of the bat.

All you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.

The Future Present

It is not difficult to think of Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden” when a country like China is seen every now and then on the news about a deal being struck in an African country or the success rate of a business after lots of six to eight figured numbers have been pumped into it. At least, to the knowledge of an ordinary person, this will create more jobs and are hence be able to meet the demands of their household. Usually such acts are warmly welcomed by the government of the day as it will help to marginally truncate the percentage of the unemployed populace and contribute immensely to the growth of the economy.

The situation may seem to be rife in Ghana as the Chinese have literally become part of our everyday life. (Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the existence of Chinese or Asians in Ghana) There were times where the Ghanaians just couldn’t understand why Chinese Engineers had to take charge of road construction projects and its affiliates. Leaving equally competent ones produced by our very own Universities “unemployed”. On the international front, this is just one of the numerous avenues to foster good ties between both countries.  But should it be to the “detriment” of the people you promised and committed to serve?

Like the Filipinos of Kipling’s piece, we may be either childlike creatures by not having the capacity to step back so as to have a better view of the bigger picture or “devils” who inflict terror on our own people.  Two facets which will have dire repercussions on the belief that someday, we will have satisfactorily painted the picture Osagyefo of blessed memory saw some seventy years ago. Until then, the “white man” will literally deem it as his obvious fate (manifest destiny) to take up the responsibility of the less technologically advanced countries by helping them to progress to a higher stage of civilization.

Further understanding of Kipling’s limerick has it that, the venture of the “white man” is a vision compounded of altruistic motives and sacrifice.  Motives which he believed many should see as pure and its actions, wholly well.  Perhaps it was a way of wrapping an ugly reality with fine words should we opt to have things done their way – contract.  We’re mainly to be blamed if we allow “an outsider” to point out the direction in which to thread upon so as to push for a higher form of civilization. We needn’t be told of what to do being it directly or indirectly.

Today's "Normal" Child

We’re baffled at the amount of intelligence exhibited by today’s “normal” child. From their intuitive swipe of fingers against the oleophobic coated screen of Apple’s flagship device; iPad Air 2 to the “What-made-you-think-of-that?” look parents give to their wards upon certain questions their curious minds can’t help but ask. They’re just so good that scientists are betting the coming generation to make ground breaking discoveries in relation to air travels which will aid man explore the universe on his quest to answer the question, “Are we alone?”.

  Some videos have gone viral depicting what youngsters can do with little Alex from Spain being part of that most shared videos. This four year old girl’s IQ (last I checked) amounts to that of the Nobel Prize won scientist, Albert Einstein who forwarded theories on Photoelectric effects and some others which we still marvel at and use in our every day learning. Breath taking ain’t it? But then we may have over looked what this evolutionary impact might have brought looking at things from a different perspective.

  A sixth grade Science teacher Mrs Sampson asks her class, “Who can tell me which organ of the human body expands to 10 times its normal size when stimulated?”…… *takes a sip from a saucer supported cup of tea*

Nobody raises a hand and at such a moment no one will want to make eye contact with the teacher to avoid being called but then Mary was perhaps slow to have moved her gaze.  Blushing furiously as she stood up, she uttered, “How dare you ask such a question?!” I’m going to complain to my parent, who will inturn complain to the Principal and I bet you will be fired afterwards. Mrs. Sampson is shocked by Mary’s response but impervious, she asks the class the same question and this time Sam raises his hand.

Yes Sam?” says Mrs Sampson. “Ma’am, the correct answer is the iris of the human eye”. “Very good Sam.. Thank you”.

Turning to Mary, she spoke, “Mary, I have three things to tell you. First, its blatant you haven’t done your assignment. Secondly, you have a dirty mind and thirdly, I fear one day you’re going to be sadly disappointed.”

Undoubtedly, the kid sitting right next to you may at one point demonstrate such an act as Mary pulled in her science class. I guess she forgot that she was in a “Science” class afterall. He or she may have not upgraded to Mary’s level because you’re bringing him or her up just as the Holy Book instructed in Proverbs 22:6. (Click on this link to read Bible Verse à http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A6&version=NKJV )

The Coin of Ambition

  Solar powered airplanes, self driven automobiles like the ones developed by car makers Citroen? Thats cool. But to have the exoskeletal suite of Iron Man coupled with his sophisticated PA, Jarvis (a fictional character). Now thats C O O L!  .Every single piece attests to the dream which sparked something within someone to continue to do more so as to fulfill a feeling.  The likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mr. Dangote, Carlos Slim, Kanye West etc all had this inexplicaple driving force which continues to inspire them to do what they do best whiles proliferating their fortunes and simultaneously making life better for the human populace. Like Walt Disney articulated, "If you can dream it, then you can achieve it once you are guided by perseverance". I'd agree with Walt but in retrospect, could it be an  ambition? Most probably.

Indeed, from the Smartphone which I used in discovering this to the very pen used in drafting this précis before posting couldn't agree less with me pertinent to the fact that, ambition was key to their "existence". Lots of people may have their perspective pertaining the concept of ambition but depending on how it motivates one, leaves it to be adjudged as such.

  One of William Shakespeare’s popular books, Macbeth pellucidly portrays one side of ambition as a dangerous quality since it causes the downfall of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. According to the book, the lead character, Macbeth was given prophecies by some witches that he will become King. He believes them and the various prophecies are thus realized in the play. However, it is unclear whether these prophesies are preordained or self fulfilling. Macbeth’s ambition soon spirals out of control and forces him to murder again and again to cover up his previous wrongdoings. Macbeth’s first victims are the Chamberlains who are blamed and killed by Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan. Banquo’s murder soon follows once Macbeth fears that the truth could be exposed. Ambition has series consequences in the play: Macbeth is slain as a tyrant and Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Shakespeare does not give either character the opportunity to enjoy what they have achieved – perhaps suggesting that it is more satisfying to achieve your goals fairly than to achieve them through corruption, Reading to the end it can be realized that Shakespeare’s masterpiece illustrates both the negative and positive effect of ambition in the different ways his character handles it.

 One could say it is good to be ambitious in life as this could enable us to fulfill what we always wanted but the fret will be how do we get to know when this ambition is considered “too much”. I guess the suitable answer to that inquiry will of course, be the moment we go beyond our human conscience which enables us to being insulated against the life draining grips of ambition. Just like the character Macbeth, who found himself of being its victim.

Mind Travels ☁✈

“Think of the mind as an Airstrip, a realm in which rests, the opportunity to reach the silver lining of clouds. To defy yet again the laws of gravity which held dreams and ideas static . But how was this going to be possible if we still haven’t clocked a route through space travel not to talk of a medium through which one can get up there. Another setback towards enabling a passion fueled ‘ideacraft’ up there”. The same sequence is repeated and not even an attempt at take off will be actualized. Probably you could enjoy ground taxing but one thing you should cognate is, it will only stall this ideacraft. An ideacraft which could be spawning in the airport of another mind once its purpose for which destiny has planned for it to come to pass through you is not fulfilled. It could get ghastly when one is highly optimistic of a take off this time around only to become conscious that it’s just one of the numerous ground taxings we perform in anticipation of a takeoff. The struggle towards acquiring an elevated cerebral altitude for this ideacraft will get rife till we’re able to break out of the grips of the “what ifs” which stirs fear of imminent aero-crashes – An Impediment.

  Relativity; time, space and motion will play a role here according to the maverick’s scripts of takeoff. Three parameters, of which when two are extracted out, will bring to the limelight that, for the ideacraft to take off, you ought to develop a schedule or agenda which will spell out the period and its affiliates of travel  – time. Make continuous effort within the schedule towards meeting the set goal – motion.  Now fortified and with the lever of determination pulled, I bet we wouldn’t be far from emulating Andrew Carnegie’s quote, “a man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind, may take the possessions of anything to which he is entitled to” .

  Cranking up and bolstering the ideacraft once more to embark on a takeoff seem pretty much like the preceding ones. The only difference will be the history you’re about to make on the runway. Atlast! The nose of the ideacraft augments high up , raising the altitude of the tires and fuselage which until then was acclimatize to usual ground taxings – New experience (Space bound). Congratulations skipper! We’re enroute the flight plan to our destination.

Knots&Bolts🔩 - The Future Can Be Reengineered

Situations keep metamorphorsizing into God knows what, with the picture of total independence being far from pelludicity. Economic hardships resulting from one blockade which has been affiliated to the ruling government, "Dumsor". A term used to characterize the prolific power cuts which has become rife in recent times. This menace trickles down the alleys of the affluent to the one who can barely procure a meal a day, portraying how this burden on national development has gotten to. It is always easy to criticize the government and always and make appeals as to the provision of certain amenities every citizen is entitled to per the fourth republican constitution. But one question I'll like us to ponder over is that, "what have we done for our nation and what are we willing to do for her?" One will say, "I pay my taxes before I even get to see my paycheck yet the look of things is still the same everywhere" - Fair enough. How then do we want these revenues generated from taxes to be efficiently utilized when we're always on the necks of the government towards obtaining subsidies on almost every item we buy? To the chemist, the equation seems to be unbalanced hence a thorough an precise survey has to be conducted so as to designate appropriate numbers to both sides of the equation. This in real life usually results in procuring loans and grants to satisfy the ever surging demands of the people likewise keeping smiles on their faces to detriment of investing heavily in avenues which could have generated funds to promote development across board.
Holes have been plunged in the ship while on course to total liberation - Economical Stability. The route of this journey can be rengineered per the decisions we make today. It doesn't matter how the course started but it's the destination we're trajectoring to reach which is of major concern to us.
The government wouldn't really have any purpose if not for the collective efforts of you and I. It is with this same effort that some people have gone through the adverse challenges of life - learning lessons the hard way rather than being laid back to depend on the government who also depends on us for existence.
One commodity everyone is allotted an even quantity on earth, is time. What do you use your commodity for? .

• Social media?
• Watching people on tv who have risen through the ranks in life and wishing to be like them?
• Partying?

What really do you do with this commodity that you expect to be successful at the end of the day? Is it going to cater for tomorrow's needs so that you don't sit back one day and blame it all on the government? The choice is for you to make. The change and the total independence our instrumental premier president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah advocated for will only commence once we seek to achieve the needs instead of wants and to make life changing decisions today which will determine tomorrow within the default allotted quantity of time. The Future we want, starts with the calibre of things we choose to deal with today. God bless our nation, and make her great and strong.

#OneProudAfrican☺

The Autopsy of Our Job Market

It is the dream of every growing individual to be one of the most successful persons the world has ever had and to be able to influence the mass by just a few minutes of rendering a speech or to have millions of likes on facebook likewise retweets and favorites on twitter. Not to forget the ever surging number of followers on Instagram. Prominent figures like Tim Cook, Bill Gates, Carlos Slim, Donald Trump etc are but a few of some individuals who have made it through the narrow paths of life to achieve what they behold now. Wealth and eminence, two words which is more or less, like the smell of perfume attributed to the articulation of their brands(names). These same words make the hearts of most of the youth in recent times to pump more blood into their brains which to my surprise is supposed to help compliment their creativity positively but I guess its rather on the contrary.
Sometimes, a not soo sounding environment may be a contributing factor to the indulgence of such activities thus, the quest to get rich and famous quick so as to do away from the sufferings they endure. Wealth and eminence- dual faced motivation?  One will say, that will depend on the side of the coin you see. Back to our setting, in the Sub-Saharan region particularly Ghana where every growing child is injected with dogma of “Go to school, acquire the knowledge so that you can get a good job in the future”. Doesn’t sound much encouraging if you were at a tender age knowing you were going to miss a couple of shows on tv or to play with the toys daddy got for you on his return from his numerous trips. Little do we know this tenets fuels a rocket to a land of wild imaginations. This child who grows to get use to the daily routine of schooling falls “inlove” with it because he knows there exists a big prize of acquiring a good job. Sadly enough, that caliber of career doesn’t exist in our job market. A case study could be where Paa Kwesi always dreams of being a rocket scientist. To work with the numbers, theories and unperceived experimentations as well as get state of the art flying crafts in space so as to explore the world around him. “A rocket scientist.. that’s pretty cool boy. Keep doing well in school and you will realize that dream –A father talking” but to the realist, “Ah! Rocket scientist??!?.. Really? And where do you expect to understudy and build these rockets not to talk of launching them into space”. The dream of some lads will continue to remain dreams since it will always be squashed by the sort of careers available in the job market. Only the privileged can continue the pursuit of this dream outside the shores of this country, with or without a scholarship. This per contribution to nation building and development, our homeland would be losing intellects to countries we always seek help from. How then do we realize the essence of educating our future leaders if we are not pushing them forward enough to attain greater heights?
Just recently, a forty year National Development Plan was introduced to the populace for deliberation and embracement. I must say, it was the spark we need as a nation to revamp the look of the current level of developments. It is one thing to have a plan of action and it is another to follow it judiciously so as to realize the set goals. We’re all hoping for the best to befall the life of our motherland but for this to happen, we all need to put in selfless dedication towards this cause. Long Live Ghana!

A L I V E !

Conscience! One word which separates the humane from inhumane. The most probably overlooked aspect of humanity in this fast paced world of recent times where we are oriented to understand that taking the life of a fellow human being is fair enough to induce wealth. It is with this same facet of humanity which allows every being to control the dragon which thrives in us, waiting to be fuelled by rage to act upon the one who “offended” the form in which it is contained. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that”. Words articulated by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Could societal changes be the slow poison to our conscience?

   There has come a moment in almost everyone’s life where we paused for a micro second into thinking things through before unleashing the dragon in us. The impulsive moment where we felt unleashing the dragon would have felt a lot good but just that one tiny cry from within brought all the melodrama to a halt. We have at one point or another heard this credence that, the quiet ones are the most dangerous. Being from home or school, the workplace or church. Could it imply that the quiet ones have “bigger dragons” within them of which by just more than one irritating push, causes an unanticipated flare-up? Conceivably, could it also be that those with anger related issues rather have “small but highly responsive dragons”? Intriguing ain’t it? Whichever way it may seem, undermining the potency of this façade of humanity is catastrophic.