I believe we are all living in a village. Perhaps yours is not
without electricity, plumbing, and medical care; but your family,
your circle of friends, and your work environment are all villages.
There may be those in your village who dont think much of you, just
like there were in my village. They sometimes belittle you and they tr
to put you down. You might even have some jealous people in your
village. You may feel unappreciated for your contributions.
Perhaps you are not starving for food in your village, but you may
be starving for love, affection, and recognition. How do you deal
with that? * Take control. * Quit focusing externally. * Look withi
for your happiness.
What people think about you is just their opinion; but what you
think about yourself is your reality. Dare to hope; you will prevail.
We bemoan, groan, and complain about our present status even though
we are given the power to do something about it. Considering where I
started in life, its almost a miracle for me to be where I am today.
Not long ago I took a trip back to my village. The folks looked at
me with amazement in their eyes.
They told me, Ti bte gan sang (tee bet gahn sahn). Its a Creole prover
which means as long as there is blood running trough the veins, there
is hope. You and I have no control over external situations in life,
but we have a choice as to how we interpret themwe can always rely on
HOPE.
Hope is like an internal pilot light. As long as that tiny light is
alive inside of you, you will bear your cross with grace and elegance.
Without it, darkness will surround you, and despair will envelop you.
That is why so many people end their lives.
They believe their condition is permanent. For many of you, no
matter what you are going through at this moment, you are not going
to be paddling in the water for too much longer. Your rescue team is o
the way. You may not see it now, but its closer than you might
imagine.
Like Henry David Thoreau said, I have learned this at least by my
experimentthat if one advances confidently in the direction of his
dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will
meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
CHAPTER TWO
