I kept asking myself a few questions one afternoon as I sat on my bed listening to an update on the Coronavirus pandemic.
And I couldn’t believe the response I gave while I thought about it. I believe life is a beautiful aspect of human existence and as simple as it is spelt and sounds, you must never take life for granted.
A great philosopher once said, life is being truly human. If this is true then Life shouldn’t be all about what we are after but how to make the state of others comfortable, relaxing, memorable and above all how individuals can leave a good legacy for generations.
This raises basic questions I would be grateful if all readers can ask themselves and others:
- What does it mean to be truly human?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
- Are you happy the way you are living your life?
- Are you tired already about how difficult it’s becoming to leave a legacy?
Then please answer the softball question; What do I want to be remembered for?
It is important to Stop and Reflect on what you want Your Legacy to be like and then ultimately make it happen.
At the end of December, 2019, Public Health Officials from China informed the World Health Organisation that they had a problem: an unknown, new virus was causing pneumonia-like illness in the city of Wuhan (Wuhan is the capital city of Hubei province in the People’s Republic of China.
It is the largest city in Hubei and the most populous city in Central China with a population of over 11 million. Hubei is considered the political, economical, financial, commercial, cultural and educational centre of Central China. It is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and expressways passing through the city and connecting to other major cities).
The World Health Organization quickly determined that it was COIVD-19, which references the type of virus and the year it emerged. Also, WHO declared the spread of the virus a pandemic.
Public health experts around the globe are scrambling to understand, track and contain the new virus. Due to this, a lot of major decisions have/are been made globally by a lot of people i.e. right from government, to companies and individuals.
According to Global report by WHO on 09 April 2020
Countries and territories affected | Number of cases | Number of Deaths |
225 | 1,438,994 | 89,873 |
Africa
Countries Affected | Number of cases | Number of Deaths |
52 | 11,440 | 574 |
Ghana
Regions Affected | Number of cases | Number of Deaths |
6 | 313 | 6 |
Figures like this will leave every global leader thinking and exasperated. Thoughts will run through the mind and obviously there will be pressure from every angle on the best ways to avoid the spread to other individuals and regions and ultimately curb the situation.
But Mr. President, in the midst of all these, what will you be remembered for.? Will you be remembered as;
- The Leader that stood and fought this pandemic with your people
Or
- The Leader that made decisions based on emotions and on political grounds or terms that favoured your own political affiliates.
Few quotes
One thing that I know is, it doesn’t matter if we are forgotten at the end of this race. What matters most is the effect we have on those around us and those who come after us. What matters is how our own lives will affect the larger, unending community of the living.
The respect of a man of great honour is unshakable. He stands a big chance of being remembered and honoured by many generations to come. Edmond Mbiaka
The goal isn’t to live forever; it is to create something that will- Chuck Palahniuk
If you’re going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased- Maya Angelou
When we mention names like Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Kofi Annan etc, what comes to mind. Wait, I will show you briefly;
- Nelson Mandela: He is a living legend. The symbol of Africa Freedom fighter and the most recognizable face in the world. Known for his fight against apartheid rule in South Africa.
- Kwame Nkrumah: He is the Former President of Ghana. He envisaged the African Union long before it became a reality. He joined other African leaders to establish the Organisation of African Unity. His footprints are still blueprints for us to follow.
- Malcom X: Malcom X is an African-American political leader. His resistance against racism helped African-Americans to realize their dreams.
- Martin Luther King: He is an African-American religious and political leader who changed the course of life for all African-Americans. He won Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. His speech in 1968 ‘‘I HAVE A DREAM’’ has become a classic.
- Kofi Annan is the Former UN Secretary-General. He is Africa’s greatest diplomat of all time. He handled the reforms at the UN in a calm and efficient way. He also founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that is dedicated to ensuring good governance in the world and helping countries of the world to become more peaceful and prosperous.
Their legacies continue to inspire and I asked again, Mr. President, what do you want to be remembered for?
This is the quest that the greatest of heroes’ model for us. Through their journeys, struggles and triumphs, exceptional individuals exemplify values that we celebrate in tales of heroic accomplishments. Classics that outlast heroes themselves. Africa’s history abounds with such tales.
Consider the core values of leadership- JUSTICE, INTEGRITY, GENEROSITY AND EMPATHY. You will find that each value can be traced to a specific historic African leader.
And one day when all is said and done WHAT WILL PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU FOR?
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For questions or comments on this article? E-mail eric.domie78@gmail.com or call Eric Worlali Domie – 0200873367