SECOND-HALF OF YOUR LIFE

By Muyiwa Afolabi

Living life is in deed an interesting challenge. From the very beginning, life is designed to challenge every ambition and desire of mankind. The very nature of life is to make mankind earn every need and entitlement and in the process humanity would learn to value and appreciate life, appreciate the world, appreciate the earth and everything therein. Most importantly life is designed to make clear to make clear to mankind her limitations, her frailty and her true size, so as for humanity to believe, respect and worship God, the Almighty. The Maker of everything.

Collectively and as individuals, we walk and journey through a life with oppositions, obstructions, antagonism, resistances and frustration. Nothing really good comes easy. You must pay the price.

Hence, when we are born we are born into schools; the first school is at home for home training and the next, a literacy academy for formal education. These schools essentially equip us not to just cope, but surmount the challenges and fights that life would definitely bring. These victories are made possible through knowledge; not just knowledge acquired but knowledge applied.

Many of us, while growing up still at school were so optimistic and confident. We were sure we were being adequately equipped with all we needed for victories and good success in life and for the future. We were trained, tested and tried. We did very well, we passed with good grades, some us won awards, we were brilliant, excellent at school and we felt very ready to win in life.

Suddenly after school comes the real world, the real match. Not training, the real game begins, and your challenger; life is ready and set with more experience, wiles, victories and desperation to prove you aren’t ready for the match.

Then you start, you’re set to score you’re your goals, you plan, strategize, you think, you stay  composed, confident and purposeful. In your opinion, the school training was intense and good enough and your scores then were impressive, this match should be over in a short while you’d think, you believe you know your opponent well, you believe you know life and can take in life and win easily. You start off with so much confidence and determination.

Then the game starts, you try to play, apply the tricks, apply the skills, apply all you know, then you suddenly realize life is much tougher than anticipated. This game, this match this competition won’t be that easy.

You’re looking at the post, you set your goals, a particular income at a particular time, a particular job in a particular organization or industry at a particular time, a particular car at a particular time, your own apartment at a particular time, married at a particular time, have kids at a particular time; you have all your goals set, you’re sure, you’re ready and determined, then life would unleash all its players, they’ll come at you in a rush, the job wouldn’t come, the cash wouldn’t come, the boy jilts you, the girl goes with another, betrayal, disappointment, failure, bad choices, heartbreak, habits, bad employer, bad boss, pressure from parents, pressure from siblings, everybody asking, you lack enough cash to rent an apartment, you struggle to get married then suddenly that spouse becomes something else; frequent fights, quarrels, rebellion, misconduct, heart break, silent treatment, divorce, defeat, fire gone, passion gone, loneliness, depression, cheating, you robbing you, demanding you bring your hard earned cash in abundance for God to pity you and attend to your condition, you’re perplexed, depressed, frustrated, insecure, the game didn’t go as planned, you’ve lost money, opportunities, friendships, relationships and probably loved one to death. The game is not that easy, eventually its very clear you’ve lost the first half of the match, this critical match in your game of life.

My dear friend, ladies and gentlemen, are you 35 years and above, I’ll want to announce to you that the game is not over, you’re not defeated yet, the game goes on, this is the second half of the match. This game isn’t over, until the final whistle. Wake up, encourage yourself, this match is a must win, you cannot give up now, there’s so much more before you than what is behind you. Your pain, your hurt, your defeat, your errors, and bad choice is all gone into yesterday. They are all in yesterday. Today is a new day, a brand new opportunity to go for gold, these goals you must score, it doesn’t matter how mean your opponents have been, it doesn’t matter how unfair the umpire or referee has been to you, this game is  must win, it’s in your attitude; that will and determination to win. It’s about keeping your eyes on the ball, it’s about envisioning glory; the trophy, the gold, the celebration. See yourself lifting that cup of victory and not sitting down on the field of play at the end of the game, holding on to that bottle of water in defeat. No, you’re a champion, you’re a winner, it was for this very purpose you were born; to play and win and reveal great glory, you are not a loser, you are a winner, a champion, a trail blazer, a record breaker.

This first half doesn’t define you, it’s to improve you and challenge you to come up with better plans, better strategies, better approach and superior winning ways. Let go of the first half of the match, you may have suffered defeat, but the game isn’t over. You have another chance to win in life!

Let go of the past, that man that hurt you, the girl that left you, the employer that fired you, your friends that left you, the lover that betrayed you, the landlord that harassed you, the exams you didn’t pass, the business that collapsed, the marriage that failed, your bad habits, your bad choices, your mistakes, miscalculations and misconduct. You’ve learnt your lessons now, apply all you know, don’t make the same mistakes twice, see you as you truly are; a natural born champion. Born to reign and rule in life. You’re not a beggar, not a servant, not a slave to life. You have and carry so much in you our world is in dire need of.

All you need to overcome and succeed in this second half of your life is on the inside of you, birth it out, the wonderful family is still within you, birth it out, the lovely cars, lovely houses, wonderful vacations, the best of clothes, food and flair is all on your inside, birth it out.

The world needs you, orphanages, rehab centres, war torn zones, refugee centres, medical research institutes, many poor countries with dying children and high maternal mortality rate are waiting for your support and contribution. The world is waiting, give all you can, give all you have, don’t pull punches, don’t be afraid, be bold like a lion, shun the distraction from men and the booing from the stands, focus on your game, ignore those mocking and jeering and laughing at you. I promise you they’ll be in the stadium of life when you lift the cup, and the fireworks go pop and your moment of glory comes.

Dear friend, this second half is your final chance, don’t give up, make up your mind, you can win, you’re a winner; you’re born to win.