When I was young, my father used to say, ‘If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die.’ I thought about these words during my journey, and they kept me moving even when I didn’t know where I was going. Those words became the vehicle that drove my spirit forward and made it stay alive.
Interpretation
Hope for a better future is essential for perseverance.
Ishmael Beah reflects on the profound influence of his father's words, emphasizing that as long as one is alive, there is potential for positive change and hope. These words served as a source of strength for him during difficult times, motivating him to keep moving forward despite uncertainty in his journey.
In practice
In a motivational speech to inspire young people facing challenges.
How many more times do we have to come to terms with death before we find safety?" he asked. He waited a few minutes, but the three of us didn't say anything. He continued: "Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter than I am.
...children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.
This is one of the consequences of the civil war. People stop trusting each other, and every stranger becomes an enemy.
Some people tried to hurt us to protect themselves, their family and communities...This was one of the consequences of civil war. People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy. Even people who knew you became extremely careful about how they related or spoke to you.
I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat.
Do not limit the shape and size in which your miracle can come. Sometimes the smallest keys turn the biggest locks.
When everything seems to be going well and your dream is almost within your gasp, that is when you must be more alert than ever.
There is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.
Set the kind of goals that will make something of you to achieve them.
Optimistic people play a disproportionate role in shaping our lives. Their decisions make a difference; they are inventors, entrepreneurs, political and military leaders - not average people. They got to where they are by seeking challenges and taking risks.
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