Fixing You when the chips are down

Growing up I remember the image I had about myself, the wanna be image of a low life boy who wants to be like a handsome, brilliant and a lucky kid. At age 12, lots of varying degree of thoughts enveloped my mind. Sometimes I wish I was born into a rich family, I wish a rich man shows up one day and claim he's my dad (wild thought right?). Just for the record, I grew up in a family where my dad despite the fact that he's not rich, loves his kids and wouldn't want us to get involved in any menial jobs. We eat only two times in a day, morning and night.
I saw myself as someone who wants to be better and hence I made some funny decisions at age 12. I told myself I wanna be in High School before age 17, am gonna get married in my own car , own a house and get married before age 27. I wanted more from life. The society I grew up was not so educated and most of my friends I finished high school with are now fathers and mothers to about 2/3 kids.

I usually say to myself, you can be more! because in my opinion driving a good car, living in a good apartment defines happiness and success. I'm often jealous of guys of my age who are probably born with a silver spoon or have a good look than myself which naturally attracts opposite gender. Sometimes I feel threatened when I see someone my age who I consider better than me either in their spoken English, exposure, Knowledge, and riches.

I have come to realize one thing about life, it's your Job to rebuild your self-esteem, your image. If you don't appreciate something about yourself, you gotta do something about it because no one cares about your life like You.

Haven figured out where I was going, somehow things started falling in shape. I was in a college for a teacher training education somewhere in Lagos, Nigeria. Thereafter I proceeded to the University of Lagos where a bagged a Bsc in Business administration where I struggled to fend for myself till I graduated. Recall my dream to buy my own car and own a house? I am now 26, No car, No house. only a University degree. Less than 4 months to my 27th birthday and sometimes I ask am I really an achiever?
What differentiates me from my old friends who are married with kids and I considered not successful? All hope is not lost I whisper to myself, you have achieved something too and you need to celebrate yourself.

At 25, I was the anchor of a TV program for 30 days and everyone back home was proud of me. After this feat, I said to myself, This is the real you. Success, they say has a family and failure is an orphan, this was captured by my increased Facebook popularity as I climaxed 5000 friends request. I have compered events with over 2000 audience and I install hopes into few friends who thinks all life post to them is a failure.

However, Life has taught me the following:

*I realized my interest lies in making people happy, I started motivating people and compering events
One needs to exude a very strong image of Oneself
*Don't wish you're like someone else because some people wish to be like you
*Keep improving yourself
*Don't allow other people's opinions of you become your own reality
*Discover something special about you because it's not a myth. Discover what you'll keep at even when you're not paid (Passion)
*Ask questions, read books
*Don't join the bandwagon, Follow your own path
*My best lesson was and still is to BELIEVE in the yourSELF. This means two things to me: (a) Believe in your personality (b) believe in your ability to do things.

Here's a quote that keeps me going "Our greatest weakness lies in
giving up, the most certain way to succeed is always to try just ONE more time". Thomas Edison

Mustapha Kelani