Realistic Secrets of Success.

This morning, I got an e-mail from a self-described well-educated, young urban professional who would like to build on his current great life’s foundation. He wanted my “blunt” opinion on what I believed to constitute the secrets of success in life. And he suggested that I posted the opinion on my blog so that others, like him, could also benefit.

In my humble opinion and in a nutshell, success in life entails either one or both of two factors. On the one hand, success can come from destiny. That is why some individuals (in spite of little efforts on their parts) are leading successful lives. By some divine reasons, they are always at the right place, at the right time. And, on the other hand, success can arise as the product of a great personal strategic plan. In most cases, this comprises of a good education, dedication and hard work.

In addition, success from either or both of these two factors can be accelerated and strengthened. To do this, all you have to do is surround yourself with successful or potentially-successful people. They will be the wind beneath your wings. The saying about birds of the same feathers flocking together (for good or for bad) can easily be applied here. It is your responsibility, as an individual, to painstakingly choose friends who inspire, motivate or challenge you to rise above your potentials. If the majority of your friends are people whose life history is all about failures in relationships, marriages, careers, finances, social graces and other life’s accomplishments, you are in trouble. You’ll be like the victim of a capsized boat who struggles to swim above water while some haters, out of spite, keep pulling him/her down. In your pursuit of success, frustrated and miserable friends or associates can never be happy for you. And it does not matter if their faces are constantly plastered with smiles each time they see you. So, here is the bottom-line: Choose your friends wisely if you want to be successful in life!

The Odd Fellows.

There are certain individuals, in this world, who will always stand out in a crowd in view of their unique natural attributes. In the 6th century BC, it was generally believed that the earth was flat until a very few individuals, among whom was Pythagoras, who insisted that the earth was spherical.

When the Romans laid siege against Syracuse in 213 BC, it took just one man in the entire populace (Archimedes) to delay the capture of the city so that many of the dwellers could escape. His “weapon” was merely a mathematical formula. This was seen as an evil magic by the Roman general (Marcus Claudius Marcellus). And so, upon the eventual fall of Syracuse, he decreed that Archimedes must be found and destroyed.

From antiquity to the present time and, spread across the world, are distinguished inventors, statesmen, scientists, writers, religious leaders, poets, musicians, architects, composers and numerous other rare, extraordinarily-gifted individuals. Without them, the world would have remained at a standstill since creation. They are the odd fellows.

Considered as odd because they are rarely popular in their communities and among peers. Rather, they are loathed and scorned for being weird, eccentric or simply different. This made Jonathan Swift to declare that "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign: the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” Such is the lot of the odd fellows.

A Set of Twins With Two Fathers.

The New Jersey Law Journal reported on Thursday that a New Jersey woman got the shock of her life when she discovered that her 2-year-old twins have two different fathers. The mother (identified as “T.M.” in court documents) got the news last winter when she received the results of a paternity test mandated by a family court as part of her application for public assistance.

The order was made so as to establish the paternity of the twins (in order to make the twins' "father" pay child support). DNA test results however revealed that the woman had two sexual partners who are now separately responsible for the kids' paternity.

This is grossly absurd. But then, what else really is new in America when it comes to sex? A couple of years back, a young woman appeared on “The Maury Show” to know the father of her new baby. The man she suspected was invited to the show for a DNA test which proved that he was not the father. Then, she brought another man who was found to be free from the paternity as well. After the eighth man was also cleared, the show host was livid with anger as he asked her “Just how many men did you sleep with within the same period of a menstrual cycle?” I lost interest in the case after the woman brought the 12th man from her neighborhood. Alas, even that one was cleared by DNA.

One thing I keep finding painful in stories such as these though is the unfairness of the women involved to the children born out of such sexual recklessness. The hapless kids could have been spared all the nonsense if only their mothers were not so dumb as to engage in unprotected sex. When a woman spreads her itchy legs wide open while shutting off her brain, this is what happens.

A Fool at Forty.

By the age of 26, Albert Einstein had already designed some scientific works that stunned and defined the world. At that same age today, there are millions of young people who don't even know what they want to do in life. They are neither laying an academic foundation nor busy in the pursuit of some entrepreneurship. All they do is drag themselves from one pit of stagnation to another. And before they know it, they are forty years old!

There are different objectives to be achieved by an individual at varying stages of his/her life. Yet, each has its time. To carry over a failed objective from one stage to the next is a sad recipe for life's failure. It's therefore amazing to see too many young people take every stage of their lives for granted. For instance, an unaccounted couple of years  in the life of a youngster can later constitute a big clog in the life of that person. This explains the adage, “A fool at forty is a fool forever”.

 

Baltimore Riots: To Whose Benefits?

Each time my black folks express grievances over some injustice, their favorite choice of re-action is the tearing down of their cities of abode to shreds. In the wake of the massive destruction, looting and desecration that characterized the Baltimore riots, the consequences are beginning to manifest. The city will now end up diverting available resources from much-needed areas crying for attention to off-set the huge financial costs required to clean up and restore normalcy.

In the meantime, the whole world appears to have forgotten about the origin of the problem and its moral message. For the next couple of weeks, the only images in the consciousness of the global community will be those of a people engaged in an orgy of destructions and looting. In place of their initial empathy, the question on their minds now will be; “What’s wrong with those African Americans?”
And lest we forget. While the rampage lasts, schools are closed, academic year is messed up and kids’ minds are turned into a devil’s workshop due to idleness. On the other hand, many people will lose their jobs as a result of the looted and destroyed businesses. Therefore, to whose benefits are the riots?

 

For Those Who Text & Drive.

The Worst Case of Child Abuse.

I still don’t understand why it’s so difficult for some women to take just a few seconds to think about the consequences of unprotected sex. It’s not just about them. In fact, it’s more about the child that may be unfortunate to be a victim of their sexual recklessness which sometimes takes only a few seconds. Why risk bringing an unwanted child to this world when all it takes to prevent the “mishap” is a condom?

This brings one to a 1989 story when a Santa Ana police officer Michael Buelna (right) found an abandoned newly-born baby in a garbage dumpster. But for the officer’s kindness, the baby could have died from exposures to the elements, dehydration or starvation. And now a 25-year-old man, Robin Barton (left) met recently with the police officer in an emotional reunion.

According to the AP, Buelna was on duty in November 1989 when he heard a faint sound coming from a trash bin. Buelna started shifting through the trash and discovered a baby, his umbilical cord still attached. The child was just four hours old and weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces.

"He still had all the mucus and stuff, and all the trash and gravel was sticking to him," Buelna said. "I tried to give him a tiny little bit of breath, and he reacted a little bit."

Buelna wanted to adopt the boy, but another Orange County family stepped in first. They named him Robin Barton. Officers released a sketch of Barton's 19-year-old biological mother, later identified as Sarina Diaz, to the public. She was arrested and later sentenced to three years in prison for child endangerment and attempted murder.

KCBS-TV reports that news of the reunion led Barton's biological father to come forward. The two met Sunday, and Barton learned from Marcos Meza that his biological mother moved to Mexico after serving her sentence and wants to see him.

Meza said he had an affair with Barton's 19-year-old biological mother and only found out Barton had been abandoned in a dumpster when police questioned him. Meza said he has been searching for his son for years.

"It's a dream" to meet his son, he said.

Barton said he hopes that meeting his biological mother will also provide closure. "I'm not angry or upset with her, and I forgive her because she was a young woman in a very compromising position," he said.

Goodwill Message at my High School Re-union.

Ladies and gentlemen, I greet you all on behalf of all the old students in the diasporas. This is to felicitate with you on this august occasion of the 9th annual re-union of our great school, Oyun Baptist High School, Kwara State, Nigeria.



I must confess that the process of writing this message evoked in me, a deep sense of nostalgia and a mental trip down memory lane in regard to the great OBHS. Without doubt, we all have the Almighty God and our school to thank for all the medical doctors, lawyers, professors, political leaders, engineers, teachers, accountants, business tycoons and other professionals among us today.

Based on an observation, I wish to implore a vast number of our fellow older ex-students to take more advantage of the numerous social media that are available on the cyberspace. This is important because it’s one major avenue by which we can network among each other and further the interest of our school. The younger generations are doing a marvelous job in this regard and we need to emulate them. I am personally looking forward to a time when we can locate and even “meet” each others' families on the Facebook or any other social medium.

Finally, I’m using this forum to appreciate and thank some individuals for the great roles they have been performing in the effective running of the O.B.H.S.O.S.A. On behalf of members in the diasporas therefore, I am especially expressing a deep sense of gratitude to Lanre, the association’s indefatigable president (who also happened to be my classmate). The same gratitude goes to my great “aburo” (Wole), the hard-working General Secretary and the other past and present executive members (at national and state levels) for jobs well-done in the upliftment of our great OBHS. I wish you all a joyful deliberation. And may God bless you.

Femi Olawole
Delaware, United States.

 

 

Yoruba Liberalism and the Reactionary Igbo.

Poor Oba of Lagos! He was simply unlucky to have inadvertently made a statement that got exploited to turn him into a whipping boy at the hands of a people who always hide behind every excuse to heap insults upon the Yoruba race.

Ironically, this singular issue would “unite” me with some “Internet Tigers” of old who were my major adversaries in those days of Nigerian-oriented websites such as the Nigeria World, Lagos Forum, Kwenu, Nigerians in America and Gamji. Those were the good, old days of internet “combats” among Nigerian columnists in the period between the late 1990s and the early 2000s. In the past few days, the arguments that took place between me and those guys via e-mails were reminiscent of our past encounters.

The Yoruba people are very well-known for their liberalism which sometimes, can be on the extreme side. At the beginning of the civil war (for those of us who were around) the Yoruba initially chose to be neutral. In fact, some notable Yoruba sons such as Wole Soyinka, Fela Kuti, his brother (Beko) and Tai Solarin put their lives and freedoms in jeopardy by publicly expressing solidarity with and sympathy for the seceding Igbos, some of whom were allowed to move about discreetly all over Lagos. But how did the Igbo reward us? They bombed Casino Cinema at Yaba where several innocent people, especially women and children, were murdered in cold blood. The same Biafrans went on to make an attempted incursion into Yoruba land through Ore town. This act of treachery prompted the great Awo to declare that we “Go On With One Nigeria!” (Gowon). This rallying call would lead thousands of young Yoruba men to enlist in the army, forming the core of 3rd Marine Commando.

At the end of the civil war, only the Yoruba people welcomed the ex-Biafrans back with open arms. It was only in Yoruba land that no case of “Abandoned Property” was recorded as it happened in Port Harcourt and elsewhere across the nation. In our then Ebute-Metta neighborhood, for instance, several houses belonging to Igbo owners were duly returned to them by the Yoruba friends in whose hands they were entrusted. Many of us can still remember vividly how the returning Igbo were given accommodations and allowed to settle in Lagos Island, Makoko, Amuwo-Odofin, Iganmu, Amukoko and other parts of Lagos. It was in those places they sold all kinds of stuff such as chewing sticks and roamed about as “London tailors” (ejika ni shop). Yoruba people went out of their ways to make them comfortable. But what did we get in return? All of a sudden (as in the story of an Arab and a camel) the Igbo have since been claiming that Lagos is a “no-man’s land”. They have also resorted to peddling an abominable tale that Lagos State was developed by them. One can only wonder why they don’t deem it fit to first go develop their terribly impoverished states in line with the adage of “charities begin at home”.

When Asiwaju Tinubu became the state’s governor, he exhibited the typical Yoruba liberal attitude by appointing some Igbo individuals to important positions, including that of a Commissioner. This has not been reciprocated by any Igbo State governor till date. Instead of an appreciation, these unprecedented gestures have been seen by the Igbo as entitlements in a “no-man’s land”. The same Igbo finally over-reached themselves by resolving to collectively vote against the APC at the last elections. Unwittingly, it was a crazy gamble as they “cut their nose to spite their face”.

Now that Ambode of APC has won the governorship election in Lagos State, it’s a clear evidence that the spiteful Igbo had rendered themselves politically redundant at both the national and state levels. In the new dispensation therefore, it’s absolutely unnecessary for Lagos State government to “allocate” a commissioner’s spot or any other public position to the Igbo community. If this nonsense must continue, then similar slots have to be given to the Hausa, the Edo, the Calabar and other sojourners in the state.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK.

Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're going home (alone of course)...after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to drag out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles (8kms) from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.

Annual Medical Exams: Prevention is Better Than Cure.

As I do every year, I have just undergone my annual medical exams for 2015. In the process, I went through a battery of tests for prostate, colon, liver and heart cancers. In addition, a sample of my blood was taken for various tests on my blood pressure, cholesterol level, diabetes, cancer and several other ailments.

The objectives of these tests are to prevent, detect and promptly treat possible discovery of a disease or ailment. Incidentally, there are some diseases that are best treated through an early detection and prevention. A lot of women have lost their lives to breast cancer, cervical cancer and related diseases. In the same vein, too many men have died unnecessarily from prostate cancer, colon cancer and some other diseases. All of these deaths could have been prevented through early detection of diseases. And this can only be done merely by undergoing annual or periodical medical examinations.

I am therefore appealing to men and women (especially those in their 40s and above) to act on this issue as a matter of urgency. "A stitch in time saves nine". Make an arrangement to see your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible.

Why I Hate Math.

My daughter has just written a beautiful piece on her blog. It was about the negative experience she had with the subject of Math. She aptly reminded me of my own high school days and the horrible experience I had with the subject.

Really, the subject was not (and is still not) hard. The problem however was that the individuals charged with the responsibility of laying the Math foundation in our lives back then were some, tired, boring old men. I remember one particular Math teacher (Mr. I-think-get-it). This alias was coined from his fast-speaking and intermittent use of the question: “I think you get it?”

As he approached our class one day, I grabbed my books and walked out. He turned around quickly to call me aside. And gently, he asked why I always chose to leave whenever he was coming. I explained my dislike for Math. He then stared hard at me and said, “Young man, I have to give you some bad news...there is no way you can ever do without Mathematics in your life…”

The old man has since been vindicated several times over. All my life…I have not been able to avoid Math. The more I advance in life, the more the subject keeps getting in my face mischievously.

Raven-Symone: When Confusion Meets Ignorance.

In a recent interview on E! News, Raven-Symore was said to have declared that she didn't see herself as an African-American. Cool. If she doesn’t want to be affiliated with the African American community, fine. This is a free country where everyone has the right to affiliate with whatever racial group they choose. We are in a society where there have been so many cross-breeding that some products of such sexual liaisons naturally get confused as to their racial groups.

The former child star however over-reached herself when she mixed confusion with abject ignorance by declaring that; “I am from every continent in Africa, except for one, and I'm from every continent in Europe, except for one."

Can someone please tell the “poor” young woman that she could have derived DNA from every country in Africa and Europe. But there is only one African continent just as there is only one European continent. In the same vein, she is genetically implying that too many species of human beings from across Africa and Europe had, in the past few centuries, engaged in crazy sexual relationships. And that the person called Raven-Symore is a final product of the craziness. What a confused, ignorant individual!

The Life of a Spoiled Brat.

At this moment, the principal hung up the phone and turned toward the student.
“Yes, Ms. Weathers…what’s all the altercation between you and Ms. Sanders?”
There was no response.
“Hello…I’m waiting…”
“I…I didn’t like the way she humiliated me in the class.”
“How do you mean…can you be more explicit?”
All of a sudden, Weathers screwed up her face and made some wild gestures with her right hand, prompting the principal to think she was being rude to him.
“What…don’t you dare…” he threatened the student.
The man however stopped in his verbal tracks when, to his dismay, the girl clutched her stomach in obvious pain.
“What…in the world…is wrong with you?”
He rushed to her side as she bolted over, screaming in pain. It was at this stage the principal saw the thick, parallel lines of blood as they snaked down the girl’s pretty, long legs.
Now confused beyond comprehension, the principal called out to his administrative assistant.
“Mary…please call 9-1-1.”
He heard the woman acknowledge his order with the tapping of some numbers on the phone as she placed a call to the emergency dispatcher. He also listened to her subsequent conversation on the phone. Afterwards, the woman rushed to join the duo of the principal and the girl in the office.
“Jessica Weathers…” the principal was calling the girl as she lay crumpled on the floor. “Are you okay?”
“No.” the girl whimpered amidst sobs. “My tummy hurts like shit.”
“Can I call the school nurse?” the Administrative Assistant asked in panic.
“Yes, please…” the principal said but soon turned around to halt the woman’s movement. “But we can’t leave her on the floor. Can you assist me in placing her on a couch?”
With the aid of his administrative assistant, the principal lifted the sobbing girl onto the nearest couch.
Shortly afterwards, they heard the wailing sound of a siren as an ambulance raced furiously in the direction of the administrative block.- Being excerpts from The Temptation of Fate: http://www.amazon.com/Temptation-Fate-Femi-Olawole/dp/1456522167/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426784562&sr=1-1&keywords=the+temptation+of+fate+by+femi+olawole

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah Sr: Physician, Heal Thyself.

According to news reports, Chaka Fattah Jr. the son of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah Sr. is currently awaiting trial over $200,000 in various spurious bank loans. The Feds are of the view that Chaka Fattah Jr. diverted the loans to live his fun-filled life as a “socialite”. In spite of his being a drop-out, the young man is said to have his residence in a $600,000 Ritz-Carlton condo. He is also reportedly spending lavishly on exotic cars for him and his girlfriend. And lest I forget, the man is alleged to have racked up over $33,000 in casino gambling debts.

The Bible says "Physicians, heal thyself." I have often wondered how some guys can claim to be effective in running the affairs of state, as huge as it is, when they cannot manage their lives or homes. Now, which is a greater responsibility?

The senior Fattah, a U.S. Rep; is supposed to be representing the interest of millions of people at the federal level. Yet, he cannot really be said to have got his life in order. He is twice divorced and on a third wife. And here is just one of his kids that is alleged to be a downward spiral educationally, and yet living large on other people’s money. This is an irritating irony of life that is common among folks who are in the public eyes. It’s worse for political leaders that are entrusted with caring for the lives of those in their political constituents, many of whom are poor.

These public figures are like some pastors whose charity don’t begin at home. They preach about morals, being “born again” and all that. Yet, their kids are the essential anti-thesis to everything they sermonize about on daily basis.

When It’s Time to Grow Up.

A COUPLE OF weeks after their wedding, Tunde had unwittingly resumed the reckless lifestyle he was pursuing as a bachelor. Quite undeterred by the adverse effects of his dangerous, rollicking past, the young man joined his friends to continue living as “boys” instead of the “men” they had become.
Every day, Tunde would always return home at the “eleventh hour” and with a different excuse per day. It was either an impromptu party he had to attend somewhere or simply that he had to go out with the “boys”. And on each occasion, he would return home looking drained, worn out and in a terribly drunken state.
In spite of these provocative attitude and lifestyle, a very patient Bola would, on each night, welcome the man home without any fuss.
This simple attitude, Tunde noted, was completely different from those of his friend’s wives. Almost every morning in the office, he would listen as his friends exchanged stories on the bitter quarrels and war of words that their wives waged against them for coming home late the previous night. He wondered why his wife never did any of such things to him.
He decided to satisfy his curiosity one night.
On the fateful night, the man had returned home very late as usual.
As Bola, holding on to a pillow that had been her companion all night, was on her way to the bedroom after chanting the “good night” line, he called her.
“Bola, can I have a word with you?”
The young lady stopped in her tracks. Then she turned back to face him with a curious expression.
“I hope there is no problem.”
“No…no problem. I just wanted to ask a question.”
“A question?”
“Yes. I’m just curious. Why is it that you don’t complain?”
“Complain…about what?”
“Come on, Bola…you’ve never complained about my night crawling…why?”
The young lady stared at her husband briefly without uttering a word in response. Then she smiled.
It was a very cold, cynical smile.
“Are you sure you want me to express my opinion on that issue?”
“Why not…go ahead.”
“Okay…I think the problem with young men like you is that you have refused to grow up.”
“What…what’s that supposed to mean, Bola?”
Even as Tunde’s expression turned ugly in reaction to this remark, Bola only shrugged her shoulders with her cold smile.
“Well…I did ask if you wanted me to express my opinion. And I’m just starting.”
“Ah…what else do you have to say after that ridiculous statement?”
“I’ll continue anyway. Unlike what obtains in many Nigerian homes, some of you young men have been privileged to acquire great academic education from some of the best universities in the world. But in spite of your fantastic qualifications, you are dense in attitudes. Absolutely empty…”
A stunned Tunde looked on speechlessly while the young lady continued with her vituperation.
“Look at you, for instance. Your parents sent you to the prestigious Harvard University in America to obtain a great academic education. But unfortunately and manifestly, you still lack the appropriate psychological stamina to cope with the real challenges of life…”
“Hey…now wait a minute!” Tunde interrupted, his eyes blazing red. “This is preposterous.”
“Please let me finish before you make your response. I’m forced to make this speech in the first place because you asked for it…”
“And so damn what?…” he cut in again.
“And so, you’ll have to wait till I’m done, alright?”
For a very few moment, both husband and wife glared at each other until the woman resumed her speech.
“Now, as I was saying…one of the challenges in life is marriage. You claim to be a married man but every evening, you keep talking about going out with the boys…boys? And I keep asking, when is my husband going to become a man…when is he going to grow up?”
She paused briefly on realizing that the man was speechless as he stared at her in utter disbelief.
“I can’t belief this…” Tunde finally managed to note quietly.
Unimpressed however, the young lady continued with her speech.
“And you thought I would complain…the same way your friends’ wives complain on daily basis…making fools of themselves? No sir! I married you for better, for worse. So, I just have to wait patiently and dutifully for you to grow up.”
She was about to leave but then turned around again.
“And by the way, have a good night, dear.”
With this conclusion, the obviously tired young lady finally turned to walk slowly towards the bedroom.
Stunned and stupefied beyond words, Tunde continued to glare at her contritely as she walked steadily into the bedroom.
“Wow…I guess I’ve got myself a philosopher for wife.”
Although there was to be no more reference to that strange incident, much to Bola’s surprise, Tunde stopped his wayward, boys-about-town activities, right from the following day. And whenever the man felt he had to attend a social function, he would insist that his wife accompanied him.

-Excerpts from The Price of Ignorance, http://www.amazon.com/Price-Ignorance-Femi-Olawole/dp/0615842968/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426783343&sr=1-1&keywords=the+price+of+ignorance+by+femi+olawole

Humans Can Learn From Tigers.

Humans have a major lesson to learn from tigers in the area of food consumption. Those sleek cats do not eat like gluttons. A tiger never eats unless it’s hungry. When hungry, it will hunt down a deer or any other source of food. And, no matter how many sources of foods are around, a tiger will promptly stop eating as soon as its stomach is full. No more hunting. Not for snacks and not for desserts. It will not even hunt for sports. It’s no wonder therefore that there are no over-weight tigers. Rather, every one of them is healthy, agile and fit as a fiddle. Why can’t we, as humans, learn from tigers?



 

 

 

 

A Woman's Biggest Misconception About Men.

“One of the biggest misconceptions that a woman has is that a man has to accept her the way she is. No, we don't. I don't know who told you that. We like the bright and shiny. If you stop wearing the makeup, stop putting on nail polish, stop wearing high heels, you'll lose us.” - Steve Harvey.



 

Helping Your Kids Hold Steadfastly to Their Dreams.

Steve Harvey was ten years old when his elementary school teacher asked all the kids in the class to write down their future plans. Steve Harvey’s dream was to be on tv someday. The teacher however thought she could play God. She bluntly stated that the kid could never be on tv. Years later when Harvey finally got on tv, he sent the old teacher a flat-screen tv.

Every child has a dream. And every parent needs to find out very early what the dream is all about. Once this is known, it becomes the responsibility of the parents to offer advices and wise counsel to the kids on what they need to do to achieve their dreams. For instance, if a child wishes to become a lawyer, definitely he or she will have to prepare for college. From that tender stage of life, the parent must find time, every now and then, to discuss with the child about the chosen path. This regular “exercise” will keep the kid focused on the dream. But the moment the discussion stops, there is the tendency for such a kid to start listening to distracting opinions from the wrong set of people. Unlike parents with stakes in the lives of their kids, outsiders such as teachers, friends and even relations will easily gain an in-road into the lives of the kids and proceed to steer them in directions that are absolutely opposite their chosen paths.

To Those Who Rely on Fake Friends.

“Era o fe popo denu.” (Ants don’t really love wood…in spite of the appearance…they are only after the wood’s exploitation and eventual destruction.) – Yoruba adage.