Dearest Mama, I say, my mouth is really full; not with food or water, but filled with utter surprise because of the political scenery, and “desperado” promises by partisans and candidates. Besides, I think some people have actually forgotten their strengths, weakness and limits, when it comes to the meaningful contributions they can make to society. You will notice that I added the word ‘MEANINGFUL” to qualify “Contributions,” because some contributions are not only personal, but also egotistical and obtained in a selfish manner. Darn! Am I stepping on toes here? I can hear some people fuming and foaming. Ah, jay!
Mama, are there people who are fuming and feeling like I am stepping on their toes? If so, please ask them to bear with me as I take them through some of the meditative exercise that I find quite helpful. I’ll give those techniques to share with my uptight friends free of charge with the agreement that they read or listen attentively to the content of this letter. Do we agree? Ok, here it goes: Breathe in through your nose. Then exhale through your mouth, pushing out as much air as you can slowly and without strain. Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Let them do this at least three times. Okay, that right, I can see some faces becoming calm, and the fists are a bit more relaxed now than earlier. Yes, I see chest going up and down, and shoulders relaxing. That’s good. Now, we can continue to read this letter.
Now Mama, as I went through the profiles of the 16 presidential candidates, I was astounded by the strengths of each candidates. All of the candidates have the potential to contribute meaningfully to our country and the world. But do they all need to be Chiefs to make great contributions? Can all 16 candidates become chief at the same time? And if Yakonno loses the presidency, does it mean Yakonno also loses the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our great Village, Liberia? Deep down in my heart, and in the minds of Yakonno, Nappong, and the rest of the candidates, they are fully aware that only one person can become chief, and by focusing on their strengths, they can find their individual strengths, and the channel through which they can contribute immensely to the growth and development of our Village. On the other hand, if Yakonno, Blaza, Nappong, Korsia and the others keep focusing on their weaknesses, they will simply become weak; blurred by their desires, and they will fail to see the great and wonderful strengths, skills and opportunities they have to help empower themselves and our Village, and the posts they can shine in making enormous contributions.
We heard today of the Nobel Prize Winners. We know Madam Sirleaf is the president, and she shared the award because of her work. But activist Leymah Gbowee, and Yemeni women's rights and democracy activist Tawakkul Karman are not Presidents, but their contributions have been recognized not only in their respective countries, but internationally. That is what happens when we delve in areas where we can make positive differences using our strengths, and not areas where the spotlight is on our weaknesses. Some times when we are humble, and appreciate our strengths and recognize our weakness, we flow. Isn’t that the truth?
In life, we all as individuals have the opportunity to make positive differences; we are all gifted and talented, but we must learn to appreciate and tap into our own talents and skills, rather than spent sleepless nights chasing the platforms of others. We can decide to identify our strengths, and align our strengths with our skills, and then find the platform to make that positive difference; otherwise we will continue to “chase the wind.” This is not magic Mama, and you know that. Mama, you always told me that from the day we are born, we possess talents and abilities. We are good at many things even if we do not realize it or take the time to bring those strengths out. To become happy, we must know what we are good at, and how we can use what we are good at to benefit others. Last week, a friend told me he was good at basketball, setting up websites, and helping other people make career decisions. I can only imagine Jeremy pushing to become a medical doctor or dentist. He will either struggle along the way, frustrating himself forever, or face some forms of lawsuit for malpractices in the medical field.
Now let’s focus on our village. Picture this youth, his name is George. He is now grown, but as a little boy, and a lad, George had his way with the ball. The guy touches a ball and it turns to gold. He not only has the magic touch, but he became an international icon because of that round object that many of us just kick along the way: ball. What does this tell you? It tells me that soccer is George’s gift, and whenever he pursues soccer, God smiles because God dedicated soccer to George, and God will always guide him when he focuses on soccer. Imagine if George decided to get into engineering or to become a pilot. Man! Someone please let me know whenever George is schedule to pilot a plane because if I am scheduled to get on that plane, I will cancel my travel on his flight. Or imagine if George insists on becoming a surgeon.
I had a professor who taught me economics in one of my graduate classes. This professor, an Indian always hammered that we cannot be everything. “There are people cut out for specific fields, and in those fields, there are people who are set to do specific things. In the medical fields, there are surgeons, and dentists. If the surgeon insists on carrying out the work of the dentist, you can imagine the disaster.” Whenever my professor got into this lecture, images would form in my mind of a person holding a tool forcing a tooth out of someone’s mouth. The images wouldn’t end. The brutal images would include the screaming sounds of the patient, while the so-called dentist struggles to pull out the tooth with probably the wrong tool. Ouch! Should the surgeon insist on becoming a Dentist? Should the Dentist wear a surgeon’s outfit and get in the operating room and begin cutting open the stomach of someone? Now, that is what we call misplaced talent.
I wonder why people become misplaced or displaced when it comes to utilizing their skills and talents to inspire others, make positive difference, or to contribute meaningfully to society? Is it because they are shortsighted, or flattered by others who want to exploit them? Someone tell me something here! I truly wonder why we sometimes waste precious times chasing the dreams of others, or trying to live up to the expectation of others, while squandering our own lives and dreams? Mama, maybe PaKoiye and MaKaisou can tell us something here.
Mama, as I look at the scene in our Village, I am beginning to honesty see where Weah’s skills can be utilized significantly in inspiring the youth, empowering them, and also where his face will lit again like the eras he reigned as the Soccer King. Have you ever seen Weah on the soccer field? I did. Whenever the guy got close to a ball; just closed to the ball, he shone, and his entire face lit with splendor and stardom. If his close associates can be honest with the King of Soccer, they will tell George that his brilliance, his success, triumph and admiration are in inspiring Youth, by encouraging them to focus on education and empowerment, rather than spending his resources on becoming chief, while at the same time bruising his reputation and character.
Mama, think about this, George Weah grew up in a slump, but by finding and appreciating his talents and gifts, he rose from the slump to become a King. Truthfully, because he embraced the skills God gave him, he rose easily to stardom. Later, George recognized the importance of education; he mustered the courage to go back to school; he set aside his fame and successes and sat down in the classroom to complete his studies. George completed his studies and got his credentials. The truth is he can use his story to inspire the youth in many ways, including raising money through UNICEF, and other international organizations to empower youth including helping them to focus on education. Imagine what history will tell us about George if he taps into such platforms to demonstrate his love for our Village, and the future of the youth. I can only imagine the fame George will win if he focuses more on inspiring the youth, rather than dwell on pushing himself or allowing himself to be pushed in an area where his strengths will be lost, mislaid or omitted. Someone shout to that!
Mama, as for me, I don’t want to be Chief. In fact, no one dare try fooling me. If whoever is trying to fool me think that they can go around fooling other people because they like drama, I will state categorically that such persons are not only ignoramus, but also cantankerous, and they are not only bent on misdirecting the likes of George, but also envious of George’s popularity, and would prefer to see George and his likes fail miserably and become unpopular. The truth is George is more valuable to the Youth, and he must make wise decisions in using his skills to meaningfully help to empower the youth. In doing so, George must realize the platforms that will boost his skills, rather than posts that will weakened his strengths. If George and others insist on listening to sycophants and flatterers who are bent on creating chaos, these flatters will be the same ones making mockery of George and other candidates they have fooled and even bullied into going into areas where they [George and others] will stagnate their skills, strengths, and stain their reputation.
Though time is far spent on this political drama, I hope that in the next few hours, George will use his strengths to speak peace; I expect to hear George say to the people what he really has on his chest: he wants to focus on being an messenger of Youth Education and Empowerment; I wait to hear George talk about soccer for the promotion of schooling; I wait to hear George speak of bringing together Youth from various political parties for promoting the importance of education. I wait, and I know this wait is over.
Mama, I am happy that Weah has realized that his strength lies in inspiring the youth to focus on education; and he will focus on identifying areas where he can raise money to help the youth of our village focus on education, vocational skills, and other areas of empowerment. We have one Village, it doesn’t matter what part of the world we find ourselves, and our Village is our home. We must therefore love our Village, cherish it, and help in the infrastructure development of our Village and the Social advancement of our people. Let us resist those who want to do otherwise.
I wait to hear from everyone.
Always,
musue
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