Mandela in our daily lives

After Nelson Mandela’s death, I set out to know more about him. I watched the “Making of Mandela” on the Discovery channel and read articles about him. I was going through his famous quotes, when I realised every quote had some relevance in my day to day life. Lemme share some wid u.

1.       “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

I always thought I couldn’t sing. I always avoided singing in public. Once I gave a speech in school on my seniors’ farewell day. The chief guest appreciated me saying I have a good bass voice that suited a celeb. I thanked her and left. I never thought about it again. One day, our school choir teacher came up to me and he told me to come for practice that day. I was like “you really want me to come?” but then I went for practice that day and he told me “I remember the chief guest telling you have a good bass voice. Do you mind joining the choir as a bass singer?” I said yes and joined the choir. That was when I realised I can actually sing maybe not so well but still. It seemed impossible until I did it.

2.       “I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

This is one quote I love. It’s simply amazing. I’ve been teased many times for being optimistic in hopeless times. And this quote just makes me feel great.

3.       “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Many times people ask us for help when we ourselves are in a pretty tight situation. Every time that happened to me I used to think whats the point in helping them when I need to help myself. This quote reminds me that living is not just about ourselves but has a lot to do with how we treat others.

4.       “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

There was this guy in my class who always used to be punished because of his looks. He was actually a pretty gud guy but he looked like a rogue. When I first saw him I avoided him but later as we got along I realised he wasn’t that bad after all. Half the probs in the world and in our lives are due to hatred and this quote looks to nip hatred right in the bud. Awesome quote.

5.        “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

This so true in school life especially in 10^th or 12^th, when we have to face boards. Completing an exam, we start relaxing only to realise another is coming up.

6.       “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

I’ve been going for quizzes since seventh grade but didn’t even win a single one until 11^th grade. When I won a quiz for the first time in eleventh grade, that too the first prize, I reflected back and thought I never would have come this far if I quit the first time I lost.

7.        “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”

I never liked my school until last year. This year I have quite a few responsibilities and I’m finding school a lot more fun as I’m involved in most of the school activities. How did school become fun all of a sudden? No change in school. So what changed? I did.

8.       “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

So did I. When I gave my first speech, I was literally shivering out of fear. Now after conquering stage fear, I can give speeches confidently even when on the spot.