New Week, New Motivation

Here’s a new week and let us be grateful for another opportunity because our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall. Last week I did struggle to keep my motivation going, l literary felt like I was running out of gas and tricks to self-talk into staying enthused. I knew I either run the week or the week runs me. I had to try harder to find good in each day. 

Did you know that a negative mind will never give you a positive life? So if you struggled last week, like I did, here’s a new week! Let us practice positivity and I believe we will do better than last week and something wonderful is about to happen. 

Here’s my six tips that I am going to apply to motivate myself this week; 

1. start simple - I will take small steps into achieving my goals by keeping near me things that motivate me.  
   
2. Remind myself of the dangers of procrastination. So I will promise myself something like “If I get this done now, I can exercise early and get time to cook a fresh meal today” or “If I can get this out of the way, I can have time to watch a movie, FaceTime or WhatsApp with my family and friends.” 
3. Give myself  occasional breaks to avoid burnout. I’ll take short breaks to go into the garden before I return indoors to continue with my work. 
4. Yes I will avoid multitasking and behaving like a ‘superwoman’.  
5. I shall avoid getting distracted by unnecessary negative thoughts so my  productivity does not suffer.
6. I shall observe a good sleeping pattern. 

We Shall Beat the Virus ..

When the year started, most of us had New Years resolutions and plans. Only two months into 2020 and life takes an almost 360degree turn when a virus literally forces all of us to rethink life. 

On 1st January 2020, along the many wonderful Rotarians, I marched the streets of London in the London's New Year's Day Parade - The World's Greatest Street Spectacular! cheered and watched by by over 500,000 and viewed by millions around world. My reasons for taking part was to raise awareness on polio eradication and the amazing work undertaken by Rotary. Well, I don’t know what your resolution was, or what your plans were.

 Now that we all sit and self distance, I hope we don’t lose that which unites us, I trust we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.  

A 'Golden' LIFE

When I got a message from my agent about doing a commercial for Toyota in Japan, it got me excited. This is one country I have not visited and so I was anxious to know more about the people and culture of this amazing nation. 

I know In the ancient times in Japan, when a bowl is broken, it's put together with cracks being filled with gold creating a beautiful lining. This is to emphasise that it was once broken. They believe when something has suffered damage and has a history it makes it more beautiful and this got me thinking about the ups and downs we experience in life.  I often say  I am entirely made of flaws, stitched together with good intentions by the Grace of God and I let my life represent my strengths not my weaknesses. This analogy of the broken bowl goes for human beings and it caused me to pause, think and reflect ... how possible is it to put 'pieces' of ourselves together so as anyone 'touching' us understands what happiness is.  When do we get tired of spinning round and round and stop chasing pretty rainbows and just allow it to be... wrap up all shattered and scattered dreams of our lives, put them all down and start putting them together, piece by piece filling the cracks with gold.
  

Everything that you have been through, everything that you are going through doesn't make and shouldn't make your life 'uglier' although it may seem that when we are going through it. It is up to us to choose to paint those struggles with gold and make it beautiful. You are not broken beyond repair, you can pick yourself up and learn from what has happened and become a better person from it because of the struggles that you have been through. You can wear your scars proudly as a badge of honour as if to say .. 'Hey, look what I have been through, it's made me who I am today and I can get through anything life throws at me now'. Sometimes I call it experience. 

Nobody has had a perfect life, and nobody ever will. It's only up to us, if we choose to paint broken pieces gold and make it beautiful. 

Don't be ashamed of what has happened to you. For everything that has happened to you is for a reason. The more we deny and the 

           

                                                                 

more we complain and don't accept what we have been through, then it doesn't become a lesson, and therefore it's not useful. I sometimes call it useless pain. The moment we accept and find what is useful in the struggles, then that's just like us painting the cracks in our broken pieces GOLD, turning something that could be ugly into something beautiful and inspiring. Yes, turning a negative into a positive. 

When you learn from what you have been through, then your 'golden cracks' are inspirational for others, and the struggle was all worth it, useful pain. So don't get stuck on how  life challenged or is challenging you. I once heard a quote that said,

"Every next level of your life will demand a new you." 

This empowers me greatly and sometimes it takes being broken in order to become that new version of yourself. Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life and the hidden secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can and thanking God all the way...So if you are going through hard times, I hope you can pause, take time to reflect and I hope these words can help you or someone you know and care for....

With every blessing xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Staff Benda Bilili

Last night I had the great privilege to meet Staff Benda Bilili, a Congolese band from Kinshasa, who were performing at the Union Chapel in London. I met the band backstage and it was great to meet disabled musicians who have overcome polio and homelessness to be on a world stage. I share so much with them, not only being disabled by polio and the effect it has on families but also the realisation of being given the opportunity to achieve your dreams.

Before the gig we saw the film,'Benda Bilili' which charts their rise from the streets of Kinshasa to stardom in Europe. It is a beautiful film full of humour, sadness, inspiration but above all, wonderful music. The packed house gave the film a justly deserved standing ovation. I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone who is reading this.

I felt very honoured to be asked to say a few words before the band came onstage and despite my nerves I managed to get through my few words before the band arrived to perform.

Watching them on stage was a joyous experience. They performed as a team full of brilliant individuals and the music had everyone present on their feet dancing. I actually did my dancing in my wheelchair, just like them, and had a really great time. I have never seen a vocalist on crutches put so much energy into their singing and dancing, and the effect was electrifying! Watch out for Staff Benda Bilili on their upcoming tour of Europe and be prepared to have a seriously good time. You will also be inspired, amazed and your views about life and disability will be challenged. "STAFF BENDA BILILI!!!!"