I am the greatest!

CHELI AKANBI·SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

The death of Muhammad Ali has got me thinking about myself, life in general and God’s purpose for us all. A few months ago I was teaching a student about him and the civil rights movements. I think he was one of the greatest and most authentic men that ever lived. His life was truly inspirational and he was an icon. What he said about Vietnam was unpopular, but it was the truth and it changed a generation and race relations in the USA.

Mediocre is definitely not a dirty word, many people and myself included at times are happy to live mediocre average lives, that’s all we want for ourselves. Nevertheless, Muhammad Ali confidently asserted that he was so much more than this and he was. He dared to stand up for what he believed in and unapologetically spoke the truth, a generation was empowered and forever changed by the example he set. However, the truth is we are all called to be so much more than just mediocre, but to be the best and exceptional, just like Muhammad Ali. Because we are all different people, who live different lives; what may be exceptional to one person may not appear so to another. It’s easy not to stand out, to blend in, to be average and do just enough to get by. To survive and not really thrive! However, we do a disservice to our parents, selves and children, by not being so much more. Frequently, I want to be standard, moderate and conventional, because it’s so much less effort, it’s easy and so much less is required of me. At times I almost crave being run of the mill, especially because I am married to a man who strives to be different, exceptionally and extraordinary; just watching him can make me tired. Nevertheless, when I really reflect on who I am and who God has called me to be, I know that I need and should be doing so much more, even if I am tired. The diversity exists because we all bring something unique, awesome and beautiful to the day and when we hid the gifts that lie inside us, we rob the world of its real exquiteness.

We can blame our situation, our circumstances and things that have happened to us for the average and mediocre lives we lead. The fact that we weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouths or the fact that we didn’t have the best education or were brought up in a deprived neighbour or whatever. The fact is, our beginning doesn’t determine our end. We only have one life, which we need to make the most of and live to the end. No one reaches the end of the life and wishes they had spent more time working, spent more time on facebook or watched more TV or spent more time cleaning their house. We do have an impact and an influence on the lives that we lead, we do have the power to change our lives and transform our destiny. We may not have power over others, but we definitely have power over ourselves and what we do, with whatever we have. Whatever is in your hand? Use it.

However, if we don’t take the opportunities to transform ourselves, those around us and the lives that we are currently living, we will look back with regret and wonder what would have happened differently. Sometimes, I can be a coward and want to run away from the challenges that life throws at me, we all can. However, what I believe really defines me and defines us all, are the brave decisions we have made when we have been faced with a crossroads in our lives. The fact that we felt the fear and did it anyway. The fact that we weighed up the costs of what that leap of faith would mean to our lives and took the leap anyway, although we were scared.

We are have unique abilities and talents that others need, I have said it before and will say it again, I employ you, to share of yourself with others and those around you. You have no idea how much who you are, will inspire and transform someone else to live the life they were called too and so on. Again I have said it before and will say it again, not everything will understand your gift or your purpose, but that’s fine because someone will and everything that you share, will be what they have been waiting to hear.

Sometimes we say we don’t have enough time to do the things that we really want to do, that will change our lives. However, often especially when we get to the middle of the year and arrive in June, we need to look back at what goals and aims we set for ourselves at the start of the year. Reflect on what we have achieved, thus far and look at what is left to do. If we haven’t achieved our targets, what can we do with the last six months of the year to ensure that we do.

Although, it may sometimes feels as if life happens to us, it really doesn’t. Sometimes rather than making decisions, we choose to make no decision and just go with the flow. That’s still a decision. I have heard so many people say I am just to busy to do that, is that the truth, don’t we all have 24 hours in our days. Is it that we are too busy to do something, or just that we choose not to do something and support our decision with the statement that “we are too busy”. As a private tutor, my students who have tackled their exams armed with revision notes and practice papers had the same amount of time as those who face their exams with a wing and a prayer. It isn’t about how busy we are or we aren’t. It’s about how much we really what this thing, it’s about wanted to change your life so much that you are willing to find the time to invest in yourself to move you from where you are today, to where you want to be.

So as we remember Muhammad Ali, we all have the power to be ourselves, to inspire and encourage others on their life’s journey. We can all live exceptional lives, do extraordinary things that others will marvel at. However, we just need to decide how much we want it and be willing to step outside of mediocre and begin the journey to extraordinary.

Be blessed to be a blessed

Sista Cheli