Date: 19 July 2017
To: All who have ever experienced a decline
Cc: Everyone with a Past; Everyone with a Future
Subject: Gentlemen’s Final
It’s so beautiful how people make come-backs. It is also really amazing that an end of a phase in our lives can just prove to be the start of the real ‘Chapter 1’ even when we are already of age. We may have stayed long enough around to almost feel nothing really changes but sometimes, things do change.
My masterpiece this week is Roger Federer. I won’t take us into the nitty-gritty of his Tennis career but just highlight the major cake we can bite off his recent rise after his non-recent fall. By fall we mean – the downward trend in the career tree he experienced about 10 years ago. Before this period, he used to be an eyebrow in the world of tennis like Serena Williams is to Ladies tennis and Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are in the football discussion. However, life happened and some strains led to some skips and then some falls attended his career ceremony.
In 2017, he had experienced two major successes in two of the four biggest tennis tournaments. He won his 8th Grand Slams. The subject of the mail is ripped off the theme of the latest game. I can walk with you as we pick up the touch from his life and shine in some depths that we have. Some depths we will rather not talk about. Some depths that are also darks. Some depths that are also cry-points. Some depths like successes but not clean-shits.
In the gentlemen’s final, the commentator mentioned that Roger has a lovely wife and four children. The camera made a glorious shine on them and you need to see the smile on the face of the wife. This lady is a support system to his life and career. I wonder what she was telling her man in those spaces of close to ten years when it was as if Roger was done and forgotten in the limelight. I wonder what she was saying to him when he would keep practicing and aspiring to break forth again. Surround yourself with people that understand your goal. Good support system. They will come in handy.
Know when you are just not yet done. You know in life, it is almost seamless to shine at a time in our lives. It comes almost effortless. It comes naturally. We need to save up for the time when it will come with extra effort. When our natural strength is not at its peak. Still shine. Find your space. Keep your cool. Feel your faith. Spark your stand. Dust your boots and hit the track.
Run for life. Keep running irrespective of how your strides look. See, those strides you’re making are like baby steps to some people while to others, they are like flights. But let me wake us up to the fact that your life is not a function of the life of others. So whether your strides are long or short, they are yours and for you. Keep your game. If you are a teacher, teach. Oh, you are a farmer? farm. If you are a Governor as well, rule. Do your thing and let men say of you, this lady or this man is an example.
We all have a fighter in us. That is the component of our system that just wants to come back. That part of you that just wants to do what has been forgotten in you. That part is very crucial. Feed that part and free that part. Know when to engage the fighter in you and know when to feed him. You need to fight back sometimes. Overcome your fears. Did anyone say you can’t speak well or you cant organize your thoughts? They were right. But the question is – will they always be right? No, except you approve.
Finally, not all of us will stay in the light of whatever we are doing or that we have ever done. Sometimes, the clouds go dark, there is always another morning.
You are an answer to someone’s prayers. When you have an urge to help anyone in any capacity, if you have the ability, do so. By so doing, you may have entertained angels unawares.
So I invite you to the gentleman’s final – it will feature people in the following categories – Courageous, Strong, Determined, Faithful, Focused, Loving, Pleasant, Free-spirited, and Accomplished people who will never give up.
Gentlemen’s Final is a caption used in context here. The context of situations when you just won’t give up even when your back is on the ground.
If you used to be great in a thing, then you can still be. Step up and do it.
Best Regards,
Deji