written by Evrard Gatana
Story I.
Your Bravery, Your Ability
One morning, lying in bed before I got up and started my day, I took my usual five minutes for meditation. At that moment, a huge realization struck me: small actions, over time, can amount to something big. I immediately reached for my pen and my cherished notebook and wrote down this inspiring insight. Recently, I began applying this concept daily, and it has now become a habit through all four steps.
One evening, I decided to watch Netflix, and it turned out to be a memorable documentary film on one of the African queens, Nzinga, from Angola, who was fiercely against colonization by the Portuguese. What resulted from Nzinga's leadership was the defeat of over a thousand representing slavery and typified in her relentless pursuit of salvation for her people against the chains of colonialism. Her sacrifices and relentless struggle in the fight against slavery are testaments of heroism.
Many African leaders throughout history have fought hard to put an end to the slave trade and free their people. These stories remind us of our own potential to overcome challenges and make a difference.
So, why am I sharing this? Because we all have that inner strength that can change our pain into power. Our capabilities are endless, not because of the power that queen Nzinga had, but because of her persistence and dedication. Her story is a testament to the fact that real heroism comes from devotion and a force to help and lift others up this Keep in mind that achieving your dreams requires discipline.
Story II.
Measuring Your Season
After work I went for a walk. Then I sat on the veranda to relax in the cool breeze. In front of the house a tree stood before my eyes with its leaves about to fall. The chill in the air meant autumn was here and winter would be soon.
I thought of summer when the trees were full of life. Every season-summer or fall-is beautiful. I thought of the natural cycle of life and how our lives also have seasons: birth, childhood, puberty, maturity, old age and then death. I thought of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
I also thought of how ancient people measured time using the movements of shadows long before clocks were invented. With tall obelisks casting shadows, the division of the day into hours became possible and with the invention of the merkhet they could track even at night using the stars.
In this way men across cultures learned to measure time and plan their lives according to the seasons. Just like that we should be able to recognize the seasons of our lives. To everything there is a season, a time to sow and a time to reap. Don’t compare your journey with others or yearn to be in somebody’s season.
Focus on your path and your harvest will appear in due time. Know your season. Know what you want to achieve and go for it at the right time. Keep cool, stay calm; remember your season.
Story III
Shaped by Struggles
As I looked sideways, my eyes fell upon a cracked wooden step of the staircase. I instinctively stepped back, pausing for a moment, as if doubting whether it would hold my weight. A thought stirred within me. That wood, once part of a tall, sturdy tree, had been cut down, shaped, and crafted into something entirely new—a stair designed with a purpose.
This thought took me back to my childhood, watching people cut down trees by hand. It was a slow, labor-intensive process, and I can still hear that sharp sound of the saw as it bit into the wood. Back then, before machines took over, real energy and persistence had to be applied to bring a tree down and turn it into something useful. We all are like that tree and undergo some transformation process. Painful and triumphant, our experiences take and mold us into what we are and will become.
History is full of parallels in this process of human progress. Think of great inventors such as Thomas Edison. He faced countless failures before he was ultimately compelled to awaken the hidden genius that lay buried in his mind. His story has become a symbol of perseverance, reminding us that even repeated setbacks can lead to great achievements. His light bulb didn't just light up rooms but rather it lit up the darkness in ways no one thought possible.
In the same way, our own journeys are filled with challenges and failures. Like wood being shaped into a stair or Edison's persistent efforts, it is through our struggles and triumphs that we get shaped. These experiences refine us, moving us closer to our potential, even when we feel cracked or worn down.
Just like the wooden stair and Edison's invention, we all have a purpose. We weren't created just to marvel at other people's successes; we are designed to pursue our dreams, to make our own way. And embracing the difficulties along the way only makes us stronger and more in tune with who we are meant to be.
So, the next time you find yourself at a crack—whether in a staircase or in your life—remember, it's just part of the shaping process. You are being made into something more, something with purpose, just like the wood from that tree.
So, the next time you stumble upon a crack—whether in a staircase or in your own life—remember that it's just part of the shaping process. You are being crafted into something
Story IV
Beauty in Adversity
One evening, my friend and I took a walk in a beautiful modern village. The evening air was cool, and the streets were lined with houses whose soft, shining light bathed them in gentle radiance. Each of the houses was shining like a jewel, but as we walked further down, one house caught my attention, not because it was the biggest or the most costly, but because the home was oozing out love and care from every corner.
This house was not about grandeur; it was about passion. The way the lights were arranged, which seemed to blend in perfectly with nature, was simply amazing. Its simple beauty did, however, impart a lesson: it's not all about having endless resources in creating something beautiful. Sometimes, it only takes heart and soul in what you do.
That reminded me of the story, beginning of 1900, of thousands of refugees who fled Rwanda into the country of Burundi. Leaders then decided to banish them far away from the city to a very dangerous forest that was filled with wild animals and insects that kill by their bites. The rate of survival seemed impossible in that situation. Despite it all, those refugees, in spite of their status as children, women, and older adults, chose to live.
They cut down trees, built homes, and hunted for food. Slowly, what started as a struggle for survival became the foundation of a small village: they cleared the land and nurtured it into something alive and beautiful. Shocked by their resilience, the leaders finally forced them out, fearing the growing community might one day challenge their power.
This story is a powerful reminder that beauty and success don't always come from perfect conditions. Often, it's the challenges that push us to create something meaningful. What makes you hesitate to move towards your goals? Whatever it is, remember this: trust the process, trust history, and, if nothing else, trust yourself. Each journey—whether filled with tears, sweat, or struggle—can end with joy if you embrace it fully.
Story V
The Star’s Whisper
Down sat under the big oak tree, sipping his coffee slowly as the warm breeze swirled around him. His heart was heavy with sadness, but he forced a smile, trying to hide his pain. In the quiet air, a beautiful voice drifted by, like a distant memory. It stirred something deep inside of him, reminding him of something he had lost but couldn't forget. His eyes followed the sound, then wandered up to the evening sky, where one star was bright among the clouds, twinkling. He took another sip of the coffee and put the cup down, his thoughts spiraling.
The star lustrous of this strange light gripped his attention. He couldn't take his eyes off it; somehow, he felt sad, yet curious. What was it about that voice? And why did this star seem to call his name?
Just then, his daughter came running, her giggles pulling him from his thoughts. She wanted to play, and he just couldn't say no to her. They kicked the little ball to and from one another, but even with the play of her, he was elsewhere in his mind. His heart was distant, lost among those stars. In a little while, the girl tired, gave a goodnight kiss to him, and went to her mother inside. Now alone, Down sat once again beneath the tree; his eyes once more hauled by that bright star shining bright.
He continued to stare, mesmerized by its blinking light. Every moment that passed, it shone brighter, as if it had something to tell him. Without fully understanding, he felt the stirring of something inside of him. He would follow this star, he decided-to get away from his pain and confusion, if only for a little while. In his heart, he chose to make the journey to that star.
In his mind's eye, he traveled through space until he reached a shining gate. The gate glimmered with words in shimmering letters of humility, love, and mercy. Beyond the gate lay a kingdom with dazzling jewels and every kind of treasure. In the middle stood a figure, the leader named Jack, who smiled at him kindly.
"We only allow those that house one of these virtues to enter," Jack softly explained. "The best gift we could give is not here but in going home and planting the seed of one of these values in your own life."
Down listened intently, his heart filled with the meaning of Jack's words. Yet, as he went to enter, something held him back. Jack smiled, firm but understanding. Down wasn't ready. He was without one of the core values of truly living a happy life. The treasures in this kingdom weren't his to claim, not yet.
In a flash, Down was under the oak tree, the familiar weight of the world resting upon his shoulders. But somehow, something was different. Now he saw that peace and happiness did not come from some far-off star or some treasure-filled kingdom; they were inside him, waiting to grow. What he had been looking for in values was not out there; it was inside him, in seed form, waiting for the right time and nurturing to bloom.
He looked up at the star once more, and this time, his smile came naturally. He had found his path. Now, all that was left was to walk it.
Story VI
The Power of Adaptability
It was one of those stormy nights, where the rain just comes down and the wind seems to scream at the world. I stood by the window, watching as the storm raged outside, my fingers touching the cold glass. Every flash of lightning lit up the sky, and afterwards, the rumble of thunder shook the house. The wind knocked on the walls, and somehow I felt insignificant in view of it all-just like everything outside.
As I looked out, my eyes caught sight of two trees battling the storm. One was a young sapling-thin, frail. The wind was blowing it from side to side, and it would bend to almost a right angle. But it didn't break. No matter how hard the wind blew, the sapling would always sway back and forth, bobbing back into place once the gusts died.
And beside it stood a great oak tree, tall and proud, its thick branches stretching far and wide. The oak was strong and steadfast, the type of tree that seemed like it could weather anything. But then something unexpected occurred: whereas the sapling kept bending and recovering, the oak stood firm, yet its branches shook under the pressure. The wind pushed harder, and then, with a loud crack, one of the oak's heavy branches broke off and crashed to the ground.
At that moment, something clicked in my mind. Life is a lot like this storm, I thought; most of us think that being strong means never bending-like that oak tree-standing tall no matter what. But when life sends stress, hardship, or unexpected problems our way, being too rigid can get us to break under the pressure. That oak, for all of its strength, couldn't handle the storm. But the sapling, small and flexible, survived because it bent with the wind rather than fighting it.
Real life did show me moments when, instead of bending for the adversities around me, I tried to stand firm. Then I thought resistance would be a way of showing strength. Later on, it dawned on me, all such resistances make things worse, like holding on too hard to anger, fear, or pain; that helps little, and sooner or later we break up under the burden of all this.
One case was when things at my job were going through a bad spell. Just like piling up upon one another, I felt totally overloaded and smothered. Wanting to be strong, instead of stopping and taking one's time, or asking for help, kept me going until such time as I snapped like the branch of that oak tree. I only later came to understand that real strength does not lie in resisting everything but in knowing when to bend, to flow, and to readjust when life gets tough.
Like the sapling in the storm, we must learn to bend to life's challenges without breaking ourselves. We don't break when we allow ourselves to adapt; instead, we grow stronger and more capable of dealing with whatever comes our way.
But standing there, as the storm continued outside, the peace settled over me. Still, the wind howled; still, the rain poured down. Inside, I knew something vital then: strength is not all about standing tall but being supple, bending, or letting go when it requires doing so and trusting that one, just like the sapling, will stand tall once again after the storm is spent.
In life, the storms will come—small and fierce—but they will pass. And when they do, it's not about how unyielding we were; it's about how we learned to move through them. The oak may be strong, but the sapling survives, bending without breaking and coming out the other side even stronger. That's the lesson I took with me: it's not about fighting the storm, but learning how to bend and rise again, whole and unbroken, when the storm is over.
Story VII
A Journey of Hope
Working downtown one day, my stomach sure let me know it was time to eat. I decided to find something to fill me up, so I went to a restaurant and ordered something. While waiting, my mind started to wander. A young boy came to my table to serve me. He had lots of energy and was moving around quick, trying to get everything just right. After he left, an older woman was working with him. This was something that made me stop and contemplate life, how from such a tender age in life we start working until we attain old age and weak. It made me wonder, how do people make up their minds about their futures; how do they come about deciding which path to follow in life.
As I contemplated this, a story about the persistence of hope echoed through my mind. It is the story of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. In a small African village suffering from drought, where hope seemed as scarce as water, a young boy named William Kamkwamba dared to dream. His village was withering away, and many believed nothing could be done to save it. Even William's parents thought his dream of building a windmill to generate electricity and pump water was impossible. They felt he was wasting his time.
But amidst the doubt and struggle, William would not give up. He learned from books and scraps of materials, working tirelessly to make his windmill a reality. When it seemed the world was against him, he kept going. And with persistence and hard work, William succeeded. His windmill brought water and life back into his village, changing everything.
The story of William is not about one boy's achievement; it's a parable on the power of persistence. It shows us the strength of hope in the face of overwhelming odds. Sometimes, life does not reward our efforts immediately, but the attempt at trying, believing in something more, plants seeds for the future.
Life, just like William's journey, has instances where the outcome is unpredictable. Some people work hard their entire lives and may never get to see the results of their efforts, but another person may have fast-tracked to success. But that's not the point. The effort is the value, in a decision to keep going even when we can't see anything; we don't always do it for ourselves, it might be for later in life, for your kids, or for those after them. We plant seeds today in the hope that someday they will grow, though not necessarily to be reaped by us.
I watched people around me, hurrying through life, and realized that life was just one big circle of give and take. Some days, we're the ones moving ahead, barely noticing others around us. Other days, we might be the ones waiting, hoping for someone to notice us. But no matter where we are, the lesson is always the same: keep going, keep believing.
William's story teaches, and life constantly reminds us: persistence shapes who we are. Even when the rewards aren't immediate-even when setbacks cloud our vision-something inside us grows harder with every step we make.
So I remind myself, and you, to remember that life is one big lesson. Sometimes it's us sitting still, the world rushing by; other times, it's us hounding our goals. But we must, in any event, cling to hope-the changing will come. Often the most beautiful changes occur after a long, cold night; we must keep going forward in blindness-in faith-and plant the seeds of hope, even on barren ground. You never know what may bloom.
Story VIII
Finding Strength in Stillness
There's a feeling associated with having one spot where you can simply just be. For my friend and me, that spot had to be the top of some old acetone tank situated at the edge of the neighborhood. After an evening-long workout, we went upwards to that spot that had been cemented up and just looked at the stars for that post-gym tranquility. This little retreat was our world-our minds were light there, and our spirits the same.
We would talk about everything up there: our goals, our dreams, the lives we wanted to live. Some nights, we'd sit in silence and let the stillness wash over us. Other times, we'd have deep conversations about the future, and those moments gave us perspective. Just as a workout clears away the day's stress, these moments helped us see what truly mattered. Every time we would come down from that tank, we felt like we'd refilled our energy and a sense of purpose.
One evening, I was watching a comedy show. The laughter brought a sense of relief and reminded me of those evenings on the tank. It made me realize how much we need these moments of renewal. Life is full of responsibilities, dreams, and stress, and taking a break feels like a breath of fresh air.
The other ways that people find their peace brought to mind the story of the Nubian warriors from ancient Africa. The now-legendary warriors, strong and unrelenting, fought constantly for the protection of their lands. But they also held deep within themselves the wisdom about the need for rest. They would even create calm at the edges of their campsites in the midst of war. Under the stars, they'd sit in meditation around a fire, sharing quiet moments for the refreshing of the mind and spirit. This practice wasn't just a break; it was part of what made them powerful, giving them the strength to face the next day.
Life keeps us busy, and sometimes it seems we're always on the run from one thing to another. But we need some pleasant and relaxing moments to really relish life. These are not just breaks; they are times when we relax and regain our energies as the subconscious and conscious parts of the brain get interconnected. We create room for new ideas, inspiration, and energy when we allow ourselves to let loose and have fun. Not only do we rest our bodies, but we also rejuvenate our minds during these quiet moments and are able to revitalize ourselves completely.
We feel more in control and balanced when we take the time to establish this connection. By doing fun activities, like sitting, talking with friends, or even watching a funny show this energizes us and enhances our clarity of thought. It is these little significant moments in life that give us joy and rejuvenate us, enabling us to meet our future with a fresh, optimistic outlook.
The story of the Nubian warriors taught me that true strength often comes from stillness. Life is not about great accomplishments; it is about finding meaning in the little moments and taking time to recharge. So, ask yourself: What brings you peace? Make it a habit to seek out those quiet moments. Listen to that space within, nurture it, and let it guide you forward. Peace isn't just a break; it's where we find our strength.
Story IX
Finding Strength in Stillness
There's just something about that place where you can simply be. For my friend and me, that place was the top of an old acetone tank on the outskirts of our neighborhood. We'd climb up onto that cement-covered spot, look out at the stars, and feel that post-workout calm after a long workout. It was our little retreat, where our minds felt open and our spirits felt light.
We had talk about everything up there—our goals, our dreams, and the lives we hoped to build. Some nights, we’d sit in silence, letting the stillness wash over us. Other times, we’d have deep conversations about the future, and those moments gave us perspective. Just like a workout clears away the day’s stress, these moments helped us see what truly mattered. Every time we came down from that tank, it was like we'd refilled our energy and sense of purpose.
One evening, I watched a comedy show. The laughter brought a sense of relief and reminded me of those evenings on the tank. It made me realize how much we need these moments of renewal. Life is full of responsibilities, dreams, and stress; taking a break feels like a breath of fresh air.
The thoughts of the different ways people find peace reminded me of a story about the Nubian warriors of ancient Africa. These soldiers were fierce in their strength and in constant battle to protect their lands, but they held a deep wisdom in the importance of rest-even in the middle of war, they would create spaces of calm at the edges of their camps. They would sit around a fire under the stars, meditating and finding peace in the quiet moments, refreshing their minds and spirits. This practice wasn't just a break; it was part of what made them powerful, giving them the strength to face the next day.
Life keeps us occupied, and at times it seems like we're constantly running from one activity to another. However, we need time for fun and relaxation in order to fully enjoy our lives. These are not just breaks; they provide an opportunity to loosen up and revitalize our potential for opening the paths of our conscious and subconscious minds to one another. When we let ourselves unwind and have fun, we make room for new ideas, inspiration, and strength. In these tranquil times, besides giving our body a rest, we also cater to the needs of the mind and let ourselves feel completely rejuvenated.
We feel more empowered, centered, and on par when we take the moment to make this connection. Because we are having fun participating in an activity, the energy becomes greater, as our ability to think more clearly enhances. These little, but great moments in life actually allow us to feel upbeat, renewed, and be in a position to approach our future with a brand-new, positive outlook.
The story of the Nubian warriors taught me that often, strength comes from stillness. Life is not about big achievements; it's about finding meaning in the little moments and taking time to recharge. So, ask yourself: What brings you peace? Make it a habit to seek out those quiet moments. Listen to that space within, nurture it, and let it guide you forward. Peace isn't just a break; it's where we find our strength.
Thank you for taking the time to read! we would love to hear your feedback—feel free to write for us or reach out via email: friendscareercenter@gmail.com or evrardxa@gmail.com.
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