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.