Last week, Baba Raila Amolo Odinga, described as “one of Kenya’s most influential and enduring political figures despite five unsuccessful presidential bids,” passed away at the age of 80.
Although I admittedly did not follow him closely, one characteristic of his especially stood out to me: his resilience.
Life’s events, particularly those of the past decade, have greatly strengthened me in this very area. Without going into specifics, I write to honour those who have persevered in the past and those who are currently doing so. A big job, this.
And as encouragement (especially at this time of the year) to anyone who feels as if they have failed or as though time is slipping away: opportunities are still ahead, some waiting to be found, others yet to unfold. More importantly, there is no single path to greatness.
My life continues to take an intriguing turn, something I often reflect on during my daily walks. I usually walk just before noon, when many people are busy with their careers and other responsibilities.
Before I start comparing myself to others, I remind myself that I am not being idle despite what some people in my life might assume (which is quite disappointing!). By the time I reach the final stretch of my walk, my mind typically settles on this biblical truth: everything has its season.
And am I doing my best in this season? The answer is undoubtedly yes.
In addition to Baba Odinga, two other stories caught my attention recently, almost as if God was saying, ‘My daughter, keep going.’
The first is that of Nigerian singer, pastor, trumpeter and gospel songwriter Nathaniel Bassey, who is currently leading the October edition of the widely followed #HallelujahChallenge. I hadn’t known that he began eight years ago—just him, his trumpet, and a midnight livestream. The second is the story of Ms Rachel, an educational creator who, despite not achieving record-breaking views at first, continued to post YouTube videos to help children learn to speak.
While putting this post together, I came across a line on LinkedIn that has stayed with me:
“The people who change lives aren’t always the loudest; they are the ones who refuse to disappear.”
Let’s persevere!