THE POWER IN POVERTY

Pixabay

Lets Learn from Abi...

After Abi's birth, to her mother, Lee, an unmarried teenager who was unfortunate to have conception due to a single sexual encounter traveled north and Abi spent her first six years living in rural poverty with her maternal grandmother, Hattie, amongst the Kpelle people in the interiors of Liberia. Her grandmother who was so poor that Abi often wore dresses made of potato sack for which the local children made fun of her. There was really nothing fancy around, no comfort due their inability to afford amenities to make life bearable. Her grandmother taught her to read before the age of three and took her to the local church, where she was nicknamed "Preacher" for her ability to recite Bible verses. When Abi was a child, her grandmother would hit her with a stick when she did not do chores or if she misbehaved in any way.

Pixabay

At age six, Abi moved to an inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee with her mother, who was less supportive and encouraging than her grandmother had been, largely as a result of the long hours she worked as a maid. Around this time, Lee had given birth to another daughter, Abi's younger half-sister, Patie who later (at age 43) died of causes related to drug misuse and abuse.

After 2 years, Lee was having difficulty raising both daughters so Abi was temporarily sent to live with Vernon in Nashville. While Abi was in Nashville, Lee gave birth to a third daughter, who was put up for adoption in the hope of easing the financial straits that had led to Lee's being on welfare and later also named her Jane. By the time Winfrey moved back with her mother, Lee had also given birth to a boy named Jeffrey, Abi's half-brother, who died of AIDS-related causes.

This is an epic story of poverty, the kind of conditions that will keep anyone in obscurity and void of opportunities. The deep hardship and lack of basic amenities that makes life comfortable then talk less of thinking of luxury and extravagance, some individuals in this sort of situation would not breed hopes of getting to certain heights in life BUT i would cut short my story by revealing the personality behind it.

OPRAH WINFREY

Oprah.com

Let me give you three profound facts about her:

• Oprah Winfrey is the first black woman billionaire and the richest African-American woman.
• She was awarded the *Presidential Medal of Freedom (America's highest civilian honor) by President Barrack Obama
• She is referred to by many as the most influential woman in the world.
  source

Yes! I have tasted poverty..at its sweetest and things are not perfect yet BUT something changed. What exactly is that? My Mind

Your mind is the most important aspect that must be worked on, when you begin to see and believe in possibilities, you begin to value the little resources you have around you. i began to write with my phone, even when it was stolen recently i still haven't stopped, i use my office computer...WHY? because i believe in myself and i believe that:

Everyone has something to offer @surpassinggoogle

This statement has been evidently proven by Steemit and every other sub-community that has made tremendous impact in transforming seemingly un-talented people all over the world like @genesisproject @steemgigs @air-clinic @africaunchained @naijapidgin @airhawk-project @wafrica @euronation @minnowsupport @steemsecrets and definitely my latest @bigwaves

There is power in having to fight everyday to reach your dreams, there is power in perseverance and endurance, there is power in believing you are more than you are even if nothing around you accepts that, BUT you must fight, strive to create the reality you see in you...cause your dreams to bear upon our realities.
We might have poverty around us, instead of that being your excuse for failure, let it be our excuse not to miss success

For those who understand;

whether light dey abi light no dey..we must dey push forward

This image is a complete message of empowerment; with the right tools, opportunity and belief that you have something to offer, you can make a difference
BE AND BELIEVE YOUR BEST SELF

SHINE YOUR LIGHT

I remain @preciousimo