2011

So it's the last day of the year, 2010 comes to an end. If you had asked me five years ago, "where would you be on the 30th of December 2010?" I would've mentioned a couple of places, and a couple of activities but none of them would include sitting in my mothers lounge, listening to Bill Withers preparing a piece for a blog that has about twenty active SA visitors, two from the US and three from the UK...(My blog stats recently revealed this to me, I think it's the CIA and Scotland Yard checking up on me after I made that tasteless status update about 9/11 not too long ago).
I thought and hoped I would definitely be far by now (in terms of personal accomplishment).
Besides the hype around soccer world cup, 2010 for me was meant to be the end of a long, tiring and winding journey, and at the close of 2010 I would be preparing 4 a new chapter.
Well as you can tell by the bitter taste on these lines, I am not quite there. As a matter of fact the original plan has been aborted. Partly by choice and partly by circumstance.
That's the thing with all plans of life, you plan to get to point 'A' on method 1 and all of a sudden the winds of reality have pushed you into an intended direction landing you in unanticipated territory.

There are only a handful of people that have had the privilege of smooth sailing towards their goals.
Yet for those of us who haven't the benefit of reaching our goals in (desired) time, there is always the added benefit of lessons learnt.
When I look at where I was 5 years ago, and I look at where I am now I am quite pleased with the distance covered. Of course I could've covered more, but I do believe I have covered a reasonable level.

One of the greatest deterrents of efficient planning is that individuals have a tendency of looking at the original objective and desired outcome, and forget all the added benefits that come with the journey itself, e.g. when I went to Wits the original plan was to get a degree and get out, a degree that would prepare me for the corporate posts I would occupy over this life of mine. Yes I didn't get there in the desired time, but I had the opportunity of building 2 non-profit organization's and a business. I've rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest 'next-generation' leaders this country is about to see. All of these lessons and relationships are going to be instrumental in my development as a human being, as a businessman, father and whatever else I choose 2 be in the future.

Many of us stop dreaming and planning because we are tired of failed attempts, un-met expectations and the emotional roller coasters. Our hearts get so tired that they settle for no expectation instead of being teased and dropped.

But our lives are so much more than profit forecasts, and cash flow projections...they are a series of experiences, all of which are necessary processes for our next step.
All of these experiences are necessary for our growth, for our health and for our sanity and none of them should be undermined, or despised even in our temporary distress.

I don't believe that the universe conspires to help us reach our achievements (it's probably because I haven't met Mr. Universe), I do believe however that God works everything out for our good...I somehow trust that even though my own life does not go according to my plan, that his hand is somehow involved in ensuring that His plan (and not mine) gets fulfilled, and that is not at all an excuse for sluggish behavior.
As the year 2011 comes through I hope we will look back upon 2010 and smile and we will prepare our resolutions, our plans and desires and pursue them with all strength and determination.
Two years ago I was telling a cousin of mine how the year 2008 had been a rocky one for me, and how I just felt that I had deeply messed up. He advised me as such, "My chief it's alright, what has happened has happened, just make sure that when I talk to you next year on the same date, you are singing a different tune from the current one'
So I put this challenge to you, no matter how good or bad the year has been for you...put your plans down and make sure that when you sit down to sing next year (on the 31st of december 2011) with the orchestra of your achievements, you are singing the exact tune that was penned down on your music sheet 12 months before.
Heppy Heppy