Walking tough on the rough patch

Many waters has passed under the bridge for many folks in this year 2016. For the many ups and downs, defining moments, positive and otherwise, and it's fast rolling away! (Sigh.  .  .). As good as it sounds that 2016 is making a grand exit, it also can be a little bit scary as the patiently awaited year 2017 strolls in. For the many plans and miracles we have waited for that is yet to come, don't lose heart. For lost opportunities and failed attempts, there has to be yet another attempt. For disabilities and many disadvantages that may have showed due to how things turned out in the year whichever area of life whether economic which seems to hold true for most folks or career, family and etc. It's definitely not the end of the tunnel.

Today, I like you to watch this 4mins 15 secs video of Saqib Shaikh of Microsoft, a guru in artificial intelligence, who deployed cognitive computing, image recognition and mobile headset technologies to resolve the problem of his personal disabilities (all these jargon simply means he helped himself to overcome his blind state). Forbes had this to say about him ~ "Blind software developer Saqib Shaikh uses an artificial intelligence headset to capture images of the world around him and process them in order to understand what is happening".

The first adjective that comes to mind to describe where he is coming from would have been blind as he was born blind, but I'll rather prefer another adjective like "perceptive" that will best describe his present state based on the new opportunity he has been able to create for himself and for many others like him. He worked around the disadvantage and disability which in our clime could have turned him to a street beggar. He used his passion, skill and opportunity to create an application that makes his life and many others better. He didn't become object of sympathy. I have watched this video for God knows how many times now and every time I've been shirked up, I keep seeing many more things that I have working for me better than Saqib. It's already on my favourite list. If Saqib can, I can also!

For you, my readers today, the challenge is to look around us for those disabilities and disadvantages, those skills lying fallow, that past glory that's fast fading, that dying desire and abilities and that passion needing flaming, all that has been lurking around for so long!

To all those things listed above, the questions to find answers to are:- What can be done about them? more importantly, How can it be done? Most importantly, When? I left out Who because the first person to help self is self. Robert Schuller says "Tough times never last but tough people do". Life might seem or feel rough, then we've gotta become tough. Building the tough mode requires a lot of sharpening of rough edges. One of the high points that becomes paramount for 2017 is increasing income in this times of ever increasing costs. And honestly, 2017 has already started in my mind, January 1 will be too late to start. So I'm on a journey of reinventing self to add all forms of value, hoping you don't mind to do same, if you don't, then let's hop on the train and keep moving till we get there!

Need someone to talk to, for feedback, comments, ideas you can send us an email - bankysanya@gmail.com

Staying up, up, up and positive

Days are gone by and seconds keep ticking away and so just like that, another year is gone! That was my cranky way of viewing this time of the year when it seems like the year suddenly becomes shorter and so much still requiring attention. For goals penned down, that have become forgotten, pushed back or not even in existence any longer and for the 'head plans' i.e. plans and tasks in our minds that are so active yet behind schedule.

The pathway of life can often be a lonely one especially when success is still a destination ahead and the current hustle and bustle seems like a hurdle. When we converse with self and soul sinks into the caves of reality rather than the daunting future. When safety and security connotes hiding from self and reality of self!

Photo credit - My fun food diary

One of my favorite book is Zig Ziglar's "How to stay up up up in a down down world". When I read the book for the first time, the world wasn't this down! Right now, I feel the whole world is at the lowest and also at the highest point of entropy and I'm wondering if really things have gotten better since 12 years when I first stumbled on the book. I've come to embrace the reality that oftentimes, many situations and issues will not change their form, the real change is animated change, deliberate and internal change, oftentimes start with the invisible and intangible part of us. We have to keep reinventing ourselves in adjusting to the highly dynamic changes around. 

Year in, year out, this December consolation of better years are ahead comes up seemingly to wash all the sins of the outgoing year away and to make one feel good about outstanding dreams, goals and aspiration! Yes, I've felt like this countless times when it seems dreams, hopes and aspirations have gone 'awol'. But I've learnt and I'm learning fast to master how to hope on hope and how to stay glued on it. It's not exactly a predictable expedition with a predetermined map.

Before you throw in the towel, be assured that the hope destination is certain even if timing remains a variable. Hope is a class where you learn the rudiments of been alive to life and living sometimes is like an art, you draw it in your own way, at your pace and on your terms and every such artwork gives it's unique meaning and message.

You simply keep getting better, one victory irrespective of size strengthens muscle for the next and so the cycle continues.

To snap out of the monologue with self in the hurdles of life, compare reality with future picture and face self with hard truth that no one can tell; identify the bridge that can link both reality and the future! The missing pieces for fulfillment and achievements are hidden in the art of doing. Even if the hurdle keeps being miles away from the desirable, keep keeping on. Sustain enthusiasm, be positive. Either you start what you need to or do what you need to start; Either you do what you love or love what you do! Whichever way just get on the doing lane and keep hope against hope!

The triumph of Trump

The rivalry between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the American election is like a keen judo,  dramatic and filled with intrigues. With countless number of speeches giving away Trump's idiosyncrasies, and endless allegations against Hillary on her carelessness. Like a roller-coaster, they have both rolled through the tunnel to catch the mace. The suspense for this 2016 American  election has been one like no other. Through the thick and thin of heated debates, over-rated campaigns, townhall meetings, social media exchanges and interviews, prepared and unprepared speeches, outbursts and the list goes on. The different schools of thoughts supporting the duo are passionate and highly biased towards unusual ideologies.

Apart from the campaign and election preparations being highly dramatic, It's also historic having the first female presidential contestant of a highly recommended stock alongside a very rich business mogul but green politician! Some folks anticipated the breaking of another glass ceiling for the female gender with a candidate who's got grit and gut while some just wanted a successful, fearless talker with conservative moral background. With so much flow of adrenaline, the whole world watched the emergence of the 45th president of the United States of America - President Donald Trump.

The countless commentaries on the outcome of the election projects the buy-in of Americans on underlying values that differs from what seemed to connote political correctness. The emergence of Donald Trump has shown the whole world that they would rather be conservative than been libertarian; Americans would rather pardon tax evasion criminal offence than the offence of using personal emails for government/public transactions; they would rather have walls than have open borders; they'll rather be more white than touch of brown! 

The appeal to the moralists and Christians is so intense that it overrides the sense of liberty and general acceptance that was thought to be the minimum for a free society as America. In all, Americans have chosen who they believe their country needs most at this time and to be honest, they've probably voted in their own version of change. We can only watch with arms akimbo what the next four years will unfold.

With the triumph of Mr. Trump, the acceptance speech showed a degree of regard even for the opposition and for the concession speech of Mrs. Clinton, it was apt! [Another topic for another day].

In our lives, we often find ourselves in situations with keen and intense emotions in decision making giving room for survival of the fittest where available alternatives have divergent but supporting characteristics. The decision to choose the most viable alternative placed in the crucible of core values, enlightened self interest, goodwill and moral narrative. It has shown in capslock that the race is not to the swift but the lesson of all time is NEVER SAY NEVER!

Maya's Golden words. . .

I stumbled on this video that sounded like grandma Maya's golden words to folks needing pep talk in the midst of many ups and downs. God knows I needed this so goodly! So watch like I did, take your notes and keep the lessons - Maya Angelou's short clips 

Ten Humorous lessons from Maya Angelou (Notes from the video)

• Just do it right: Do it right even if it's not popular, nor profitable (our society, families and world needs this).
• Be courageous: It's the most important virtue, you need courage to be consistent in living out all other virtues.
• Love: Fall in love with self and then love others. Find love internally and let love flow out - you can't give what you don't have.
• Laugh: Live with ease, bask in humour and lightheartedness. Pass laughter on, let someone else catch the flame of laughter.
• Be a blessing to somebody - Be a rainbow 🌈 in someone's clouds!
• Turn struggles into triumphs - generate positive energy through tough situations.
• Talent: No one is without talent, it's something inside that flows like electricity lightening our daily lives. We all got it in different measures and we all need it to make the world go round! 
• Learn to say No! Learn to have a voice! Poverty has been directly linked to voicelessness and powerlessness.
• Always do your best and give your best!
• Keep rising even in obscurity, above all odds, rubbles and remnants; beyond the borders of family, society, race and world at large! When you choose to rise, you shine! So choose to rise! Still I rise