The secret of life 2: Purpose

Hello everybody! Eku deede iwoyi o!

I would like to go a bit deeper on the topic first shared in February 2023.

The secret of life is a question that has intrigued humanity for centuries. Some people believe that the secret lies in wealth, power, or fame, while others think it is found in spiritual practices, relationships, or personal growth. However, the secret of life is not a tangible thing that can be acquired or possessed. It is a concept that transcends material possessions and personal beliefs. 

 

The secret of life can be summed up in one word: purpose. Purpose is the reason why we exist, the motivation behind our actions, and the source of our happiness. Without purpose, life becomes meaningless, and we feel lost and unfulfilled. Therefore, discovering our purpose is the key to unlocking the secret of life.

 

Finding our purpose is not an easy task, but it is a rewarding one. It requires us to reflect on our values, passions, strengths, and weaknesses. It also requires us to experiment, take risks, and make mistakes. Through this process, we learn what we want to do, what we are good at, and what impact we want to make in the world.

 

Once we find our purpose, we can align our lives with it. This means that we use our time, energy, and resources to pursue our purpose and make a positive impact in the world. We can do this in various ways, such as through our careers, hobbies, volunteer work, or personal relationships. Whatever path we choose, it should be in line with our purpose and bring us joy and fulfillment.

 

Living a purposeful life requires us to cultivate certain qualities, such as courage, resilience, gratitude, and compassion. These qualities enable us to overcome challenges, stay focused on our goals, appreciate what we have, and help others. They also make us happier, healthier, and more connected to the world around us.

 

However, living a purposeful life is not always easy. We may face obstacles, setbacks, or distractions that derail us from our path. We may also encounter criticism, rejection, or failure that undermines our confidence and motivation. In such moments, it is important to remember that our purpose is bigger than ourselves. It is a calling that transcends our ego and serves a greater good. Therefore, we should not give up on our purpose, but rather find new ways to pursue it and learn from our experiences.

 

In conclusion, the secret of life is purpose. Purpose gives meaning to our existence, guides our actions, and brings us happiness and fulfillment. Finding our purpose requires us to reflect, experiment, and grow. Living a purposeful life requires us to cultivate certain qualities and overcome challenges. Ultimately, living a purposeful life is a lifelong journey that requires us to stay true to our purpose, adapt to change, and contribute to the world.

We celebrate those who were born in April. Another birthday’s here, which means another year filled with cherished memories awaits. Take advantage of every moment. Happy birthday!

Have a wonderful month everybody and stay safe!

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.

Little Things Count.

 Hello eku, dee de iwoyio.

I would like to share another short story with you again this month. Enjoy it.

I noticed we had grass growing rapidly inside my new compound, so, I and my neighbor decided to get rid of them.

I asked around and found someone who would do it.

Brought him to the compound, and showed him around, so he said he'd clear it for 3K, but we can also negotiate.

Inside me, I was surprised because the work was too big for that amount. So, I told him we would give him 5K instead.

The dude was overjoyed. He ran off to get his working tools, got back, and was almost starting off.

I asked him to halt, and confirmed if he's had something to eat.

He said -- No. That he has yet to eat since the evening before.

I quickly prepared tea, bread, and fried eggs for him.

Chai! Tears out from the guy`s eyes when I gave him.

He finished eating, picked up his tools, and worked enthusiastically with all his heart.

At intervals, I'll stop what I was doing inside to check on him. Sometimes, chat and laugh with him.

So, he rounded up for that day and said he'd be coming around the next day to pack the dead grass.

I gave him the 5K despite the fact that he had not completed his work.

He was really excited. I told him to take my contact so he could reach me before coming the next day, he said he would have loved to, but he didn't have a phone

He said he sold it 2 weeks back, so he could eat. All he had left was his SIM.

I felt his pain, but I remembered I had a phone I wasn't using, so I gave it to him+N500 for a recharge card.

Tears just roll from the guy's eye instantly.

And he said, one of the deepest "God Bless You", I've ever gotten in my life. So, he left excitedly.

And, for me -- I slept like a baby that night.

The dude came the next day and continued the remaining task with so much passion.

I shared the rice I had left with him for breakfast, and by 12 noon, he was done with the whole task.

He thanked me endlessly and left.

I got a call very early today from him, and he gave me great news.

He said his former boss that relocated from Ibadan to Abuja, reached him on the phone immediately after he inserted his SIM into the phone I gave him.

And that his boss told him he's been trying hard to reach him for weeks and finally sent him N100k this morning.

He expressed his appreciation for my favor which made me emotional.

The lesson of the story is; always do little things you can do, to change people's lives. It might be little to you, but that might be the answer to their long-standing heart desires.

 These bits of kindness may not come in monetary forms.

• You can tell people kind words.

• Give them a bit of your time

• Hear them out

• Give them warm hugs

• Never despise or look down on them

• Applaud them when they carry out duties for you

• Make them feel like the humans that they really are.

And, you might just be saving a life in the process.

We celebrate those who were born in March. Wishing you nothing but the best on your birthday.

Have a wonderful month everybody and stay safe!

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.

Secret of life.

 Hello eku, dee de iwoyio.

It's February already everybody! I hope you are following up on your verbal promises with some solid planning and action I mentioned last month?

Do you remember the famous Yoruba poem “ Ise loogun ise”?

To back it up, I would like to share another short story I came across recently with you again this month. Enjoy it.

A father used to say to his children when they were young: When you all reach the age of 12 I will tell you the secret of life. One day when the oldest turned 12, he anxiously asked his father what was the secret of life. The father replied that he was going to tell him, but that he should not reveal it to his brothers.

The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk. "What are you saying?" The boy asked incredulously. As you hear it, son: The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4 in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket, and do the work yourself.

That is the secret of life, the cow does not give milk. You milk her or you don't get milk. There is this generation that thinks that cows GIVE milk. That things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if "I wish, I ask..... I obtain."

"They have been accustomed to getting whatever they want the easy way...But no, life is not a matter of wishing, asking, and obtaining. The things that one receives are the effort of what one does. Happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration."

So, share with your children from a young age the secret of life, so they don't grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, their association, or their cute little faces are going to give them everything they need in life. This will help them avoid making poor choices in an attempt to meet up with life's demands.

Remember "Cows don't give milk; you have to work for it." Of course, we may need some support to get to where we want to be, but we need that initial effort that will encourage the support which is why they say "Omo ti o ba shipa langbe". Therefore our forefathers knew it when they said it and eloquently put together and published by JF ODUNJO. There is no shortcut!

We celebrate those who were born in February. We hope your celebration gives you many happy memories!

Happy Birthday!

Have a wonderful month everybody and stay safe!

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.

 

Best Year Ever.

 Compliments of the season everybody!

Odun ayo at alaafia ni yio je fun gbogbo wa o.

I will like to share and encourage you with this as we embark on the new 2023 journey. I believe we all have at least one new resolution for the year. I also believe that we all want to live a life that matters. We all want to reach our full potential. But too often we find ourselves overwhelmed by day-to-day activities. Our big goals get pushed to the back burner--and then, more often than not, they get forgotten. I want you to know that it doesn't have to be this way. In fact, I think that this is the year you can finally close the gap between reality and dreams.

How can you make 2023 your best year ever?

Here are 5 simple Steps to Achieving Your Best Year Ever.

1. Believe the Possibility. If our habits of thinking are beneficial, we tend to experience positive results such as happiness, satisfaction, and even material success. But if our habit of thinking is counterproductive, we often experience unhappiness and dissatisfaction. When we focus on improvement, our lives follow suit.

2. Complete the Past. Avoid dragging your past into your future. Learn from the past experience and move forward.

3. Design Your Future. You need to create the life that you want by setting SMARTER goals. Each must be Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Risky, Time-Keyed, Exciting, and Relevant.

4. Find Your Why. It is crucial to identify the mission or motives behind your goals.

5. Make It Happen. Planning is not enough; it takes action to fully realize your goals.

Improving your life isn’t as simple as staring up at a firework-lit sky and whispering a couple of sentences to yourself. Sure, the intent is there, but you also need to follow up on your verbal promises with some solid planning and action.

Let’s start by picturing where you want to be in 12 months. What do you see? Some of the more common desires are to be free of debt, physically fit, have a happy family life, and a good relationship, master a hobby, and feel spiritually well. The good news is that you can have all of this.

This is your year, don`t differ it any longer. Once you`ve determined your next step take action!

We celebrate with you if you were born in January. May this year be filled with adventures, blessings, and lots of laughs. Happy Birthday!

Have a wonderful year everybody and stay safe!

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.

CHOICES and FREEDOM

 Hello eku, dee de iwoyio.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, the year is gradually winding up. We need to be thankful that by grace, we’ve been kept healthy and alive through all the troubles and tribulations (rogbodiyan) of life in the year.

I would like to share another short story with you again this month. Enjoy it.

A “mouse” was put at the top of a jar filled with grains.

He was so happy to find so much food around him that he no longer felt the need to run around searching for food and now he could happily live his life.

After a few days of enjoying the grains, he reached the bottom of the jar.

Now he was trapped and he couldn't get out of it. He now has to solely depend upon someone to put grains in the same jar for him to survive. He also may not get the grain of his choice and he cannot choose either.

Here are a few lessons to learn from this:

a. Short-term pleasures can lead to long-term traps. b.If things are coming easy and you are getting comfortable, you are getting trapped in dependency.

c. When you are not using your skills, you will lose more than your skills. You lose your CHOICES and FREEDOM.

d. Freedom does not come easy but can be lost very quickly.

NOTHING comes easily in life and if it comes easily, maybe it is not worth it.

Please do not be like this mouse.

Happy birthday if you were born in December. Live today like it is a special gift because it is the best birthday gift. Have a wonderful happy, healthy birthday, and many more to come.

Have a great month everybody! May His sustaining grace keep us still

and see us through the coming year. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.

Precious Time

 Hello eku, dee de iwoyio.

I would like to share another short story with you again this month. Enjoy it.

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who had been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my 3 children had made it possible to see her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

“What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that late-night calls or surprise invitations are a sign of bad news.

“I thought it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.”

She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited at the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an Angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,” she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Halfway through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation — nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events in each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.

“How was your dinner date?” Asked my wife when I got home.

“Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her.

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I love you,” and giving our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”

Happy birthday if you were born in November. You were brought into this world to be a blessing and inspiration to the people around you! May you be given more birthdays to fulfill all of your dreams!”

Have a great month everybody! Stay safe and stay healthy.

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.

Kindness

Hello eku, dee de iwoyio.

I would like to share another short story with you again this month. Enjoy it.

 There was once a worker who was working in a fish freezing and preserving factory.

One day, before the end of work, he entered the fish-keeping refrigerator

To get the rest of his work done that day..!

And while he was getting his work done, the refrigerator door happened to be closed and he was locked inside it..!

The man tried to open the door, but he couldn't, he screamed and called out at the top of his voice seeking help but the work was over and there was no one in the factory to help.

After about 5 hours, the man was about to die of cold, the factory guard opens the refrigerator door, and saves him..!

And when the factory manager asked the factory keeper,

How did he know that worker was inside the factory?

He did not go out with the rest of the workers.

The guard said: I have been working in this factory for thirty years

Hundreds of employees and workers enter and leave the factory every day,

None of them greeted me every day, asked me how I was, and smiled at me

Except for that man..!

At the end of the day, I did not hear from him and missed him when the workers have gone.

I knew he was still in the factory, so I looked for him until I found him.

The moral of the story is; Be kind to people. A kind word is a key to hearts..!

Perhaps, a kind word that you may not pay attention to will awaken hope in the soul of others, without you knowing.

Do not belittle anyone and do any favor, even if it`s just smiling at people.

Happy birthday if you were born in October. They say the older you are, the smarter you become. At your age, you must be a genius! May the day bring you all the joy you deserve.

Have a wonderful month everybody! Stay safe and stay healthy.

Eric O. Thompson

YAJ.