It Pays to Treat People Right by Lanre Olagunju.

Undoubtedly, human beings are the most treasured creature on planet earth; unfortunately, men don’t treat men as such. No society can succeed beyond the premium it places on people, after all government is all about people and people alone.

The parallel reason for the irreconcilable differences between the western world and the poor third world countries like ours is the premium placed on human. Developed countries dwell on the understanding that human capital is the richest and most crucial recipe for economic development. To that effect, they value education, provision of food and water, fine art of hospitality and good health that her citizens may function optimally.

In fact, we think otherwise and it shows. Here people die for very wrong reasons, or how else do you explain that young and old alike die of treatable and curable diseases like malaria and absence of drugs in our hospitals. Asking for electricity is like asking for too much but humans aren’t meant to live without basic survival needs like food and water. Today, bad roads claims lives each day as if granite and coal tar have all relocated into extinction. Little wonder why we as a people despite our dreams to prosper will still wallow in the anguish of poverty.

Young people aren’t the leaders of tomorrow anymore, but leaders of today- so we claim. Although our actions can’t be more contradicting. In fact it’s like we’ve taken an unconscious oat to replicate the wrong deeds of the older generation and we can’t be any better for it. It shows when we scam foreigners on the web and also when we celebrate our scammer friends and relations. Lately, there is this advancement, witchcraft has been successfully rebranded into a money making machine.

“Service to humanity is the best work of life”-so says a creed, and the only way to be impactful and fulfilled is to serve humanity by the giving away of oneself. The shocking irony is that only those who give themselves to others make a meaning out of life. After all, the worth of our days will be measured by what we gave and not what we earned. There is an urgent need to ensure that greed and self centeredness die a natural death by birthing the zeal to help, serve, encourage and inspire others.

The scarcity oriented society we live has succeeded in making us aware of one thing and that’ self and ourselves alone. It is understandable that one’s environment has a whole lot of influence on the mind. Therefore the default in a country like ours is to be greedy, self centered, embezzle and be awfully stingy. Any act short of this can be possibly tagged non -Nigerian.

Let the truth be told, even your future helpers might desperately need your help now. It should be noted that every broken relationship is a broken bridge. Relationship is everything, and only those who have mastered the act of treating others right can love genuinely. When we treat others right, the success we pursue endlessly will be replaced with abundance of wealth, joy and most importantly fulfillment. If all of our net labor is to make ourselves just a little comfortable, then we are by all standards the most miserable creature.

Learn to look out for the genuine interest of others especially those who are despised. Help someone solve a problem, encourage your neighbor, buy someone a gift, call that old friend you haven’t seen in a long time, keep loving that irritable and cocky roommate, go visit that friend who is lying lifeless on the hospital bed.

Great men like Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates and Henry Ford just wanted to solve a problem, and in return life has furnished them with all the wealth and fame they couldn’t imagine, reason that God can’t but reward those who nurture that which he created in the fullness of his power.

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MY FRIEND by TOSIN BUCKNOR

I once had a friend who was quit ill. The least of what he had was a cold. But he also had malaria, and doctors suspected he was anemic as he was severely jaundiced.

My friend was a lovely boy to look at. Well, in parts for some reasons he was developing skin allergies from things that were destroying him internally and so he had some patches' here and there. But he was also vibrant in certain areas and you could see and feel that in him.

He had this wide grin that drew you in, and even though there were a few teeth missing and one or two of the teeth seems to be decaying, you always smile back.

He had a firm handshake and you might have resisted at first, but once you held out your hand to him and he shoot his, you felt a warmth radiate.

My friend was basically of an easy going nature. He liked parties and football. But every once in a while, he would lose temper and then you would be so afraid.

These outburst were temporary but the doctors feared that without some forms of psychological help, he would become permanently angry and at war with himself. These could be true since his outbursts have started increasing and these days last for longer.

My friend refuses to wear glasses although it was obvious he needed them. You can tell by the way he stumbles sometimes and always pulls the paper close to read.

But I think he thinks wearing glasses will be uncool. Well falling down and breaking your hip is also uncool but hey! Who listen to me anyway?

And speaking of listening... that is something my friend is not good at. Listening.

I think he pretends to listen. He keeps quiet and nod a lot when people talk and then turn right to the opposite! It annoys me sometimes because really, some things that are said are for his own good and I will tell you of some things we said.

YOU see, my friend is going to turn fifty I know! I know!

Ideally, one should block the road and bring down heaven and earth. I know people who clear their account just so they can celebrate their fiftieth. People buy new clothes, may be even make new friends. It is not easy to be fifty and as they say, 'then go take'

So, it is only natural that my friend wants to celebrate his birthday right? But you see, my friend is ill, he has a cold, and malaria and he is severely jaundiced.

I think the money he withdraws should not be on the biggest cake he can find, a website in his honor, parties in different states and so on.

I think the money he has should be spent on getting himself treated and better!

I think my friends needs to heal his body, his heart, his memories, his mind.

And this is what we have all told him.

But my friend does not listen and he never seems to learn from his past mistakes.
Like that time my friend celebrated his independent from his parent?

He was so excited! but he had no plans of how he would keep himself on his feet for years, what is children will eat from, and what people will think of him, and how to relate to others.

No, Airegin does not listen to anyone and so come October first, he will celebrate.

Possibly, in darkness, with water drawn from a well that is drying up.

And on the second, he will start all over again.

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Tunde Olabenjo is young, he is relevant, and he is a role model... By: Lanre Olagunju

He is the CEO of EdgeWalk Solutions, the proud trendsetter and creator of the biggest and fastest growing mobile social networking site in Nigeria. You want to hazard a guess? 9jawap.net. This young chap bags numerous awards which include; first in a Software Exhibition held by National Association Of Computer Science Students NACOSS UNAAB in 2007, first in a Programming Competition held by National Association Of Computer Science Students NACOSS UNAAB in 2008, first in a Software Exhibition held by Nigerian Computer Society (Ogun State chapter); one of three participant representing UNAAB in 2009. He was also nominated for Top ICT Young Innovator in Africa organized by ForgeAhead in South Africa www.forgeahead.co.za in 2008.

One of his numerous technological brain seed includes the “mobile time table” a java application he created for students to store their school timetable on their mobile phones, while he was in school. Tunde is also blessed with several IT certifications and the list continues to grow. His double position as the first child and the first son out of four has no doubt furnished him with some fundamental leadership skills.



He is a visionary leader whose eye sees far beyond the present He is ever willing to achieve set goals and always on the watch for new ones once the previous ones are expelled. He is so much engrossed with his passion for information technology that he talks about them in wholesales.

Tunde Olabenjo is one among the few with sound intellect who have mastered the art of transmuting their passion into a means of solving global problems, thereby, becoming a money magnet too. I believe that everyone is a genius at one thing. God hasn’t given everything to one but he has indeed given one thing to all. Oh my good friend is a genius when it comes to computer analysis, usage and programming. If he’s not, it simply means that the word genius doesn’t exist. Indisputably, life has it different phases which open’s us to diverse seasons which include the good and the bad, but our determination and doggedness to triumph is what makes us thick.

As an introvert I realized that it could be overwhelming at times to be a worrier because you can seldom stay focused and optimistic, just at the birth of an idea you already can envisage a million and one reason why such idea won’t germinate. I was astonished the day I discovered from the number one brand consultant as far as am concerned, Mr. Leke Alder that a good sense of humor is a chief recipe for success. An outstanding sense of humor has always been an ingredient in attracting people, little wonder why tbenjis (like Tunde is fondly called) cant but keep having friends all around him like flies chasing after dead carcass. Moreover, that is one of the things that got me attracted to him and even glued too. His out of this world sense of humor is expressed in his natural ability to make others happy either by making a fool of himself or his prevailing appalling circumstances or by out rightly making a fool out of others.

In striving to achieve success and significance so much untold and nonnegotiable tragedies would crop up but one must be able to laugh in the midst of such circumstances. Yes! I said laugh. Laugh at yourself and laugh at your circumstances. The ability to laugh during an unfavorable occurrence is not a symptom of mental infection, rather strength from within would be awaken with so much strength and vitality that making accurate and precise decisions becomes inevitable.

Olabenjo is an enthusiastic narrator with a knack for drama, umpteen mistaken for a theatre art student but all of this is just to exorcize the bottled up energy that dwells abundantly in his inside. There can’t be a dull moment with tbenjis, I repeat no dull moment. Most of his friends can only wish and pray that his unborn kids would have a good concession of his humorous energy. Am always excited and challenged by folks who are living a purpose driven life, nothing else in the globe challenges me to do my best, than to see my peers striving to showcase their saltiness to the world by being dynamic problem solvers. particularly in a society where young people solace in mental laziness, all in the name of social networking and a fender to bumper affiliation with the media.

Permit me to quickly add that Tunde Olabenjo is a fervent giver and I can always say with all sincerity and confidence that if he was predestined to fail, the reason that he is a cheerful giver would be the only “why” God would be forced to make him succeed. Don’t take him for a “maggar” I tell you he is not. His spiritual alertness and awareness is a bit above the regular. Since Tunde’s faith is as big as the mustard seed I say “no shaking” after all, the same equivalent of faith is all that is needed to move a mountain.

Earnestly, Tunde is a fine boy. At anytime of the day, in any part of this planet or even outside planet earth, he would always be referred to as an handsome dude, regardless his height. He could be mistaken for an “oshomo” (player) due to his good looks and swagger. Since he lacks the acumen of both facial and body expression most times he is erroneously seen as a hard guy by female admirers. His expressive nature certifies him for a gregarious, with a highly sociable personality. He is quite assertive and always ready to express himself regardless of whose ox is goad.

“larigold” cherishes this young Nigerian who despite all odds has established a positive niche for himself even in times of global moral meltdown. In this new decade Tunde Olabenjo is one brilliant chap that should be watched out for in the IT world.

In as much as I don’t want to remind anyone of the ugly wahala (tragedy) Farouk Abdulmutallab has brought to this nation. We should remember that if we wouldn’t live right for ourselves, we should live right for the sake of others. No doubt Tunde is a proof to the world at large that there exist a quantity of Nigerian youths who are relevant in making positive global impact rather than the terrorist image imposed on us.

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Are You Growing Up or Just Growing Old?... By Lanre Olagunju

The reality that life is short should always be paramount in our minds. The shortness of our numbered days becomes more perceptible when we view life as a countdown which indeed is. As each day passes we increase without even knowing it because at the tick of each second, we automatically grow older in age.

Everyone was born little and with virtually nothing apart from the beautiful birthday suit we came in, but, while some grow up into maturity by taking charge of life and its endless adventures and prospects, others just grow old acquiring so much numbers like the calendar.

It was said that “the error of the age, is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence. While the error of the youth is to believe that intelligence is a substitute for experience, but the truth is that old or young we must never stop growing”

When we stop growing we can’t but stink like the most rotten of eggs. As young people of this great nation, who were been recently referred to as untapped resources by the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. If we must become relevant in restoring our country’s lost glory, and become a source of joy to our generation, we mustn’t only grow old just like every other creature or thing, we must grow up and be resourceful.

Signs of maturity include, the ability to ask thoughtful and mind blowing questions. The mind that asks is a growing mind. Though there isn’t any crime in not knowing, but what’s the beauty and pride in not wanting to know? If Isaac Newton had simply picked up the apple and chewed it up, rather than questioning why it fell, he probably wouldn’t have discovered the law of gravity.

The ability to see beyond “now” as always been a trait of maturity and this has nothing to do with age. As we grow, our ability to picture a desirable future and work painstakingly to ensure that the future materializes is a brilliant quality of development.

A child would always demand for momentary and transient things, developed minds are more concerned with delaying gratification and solving problems be it minor or major. So many others, whose lives are dependent on theirs will be at ease. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Were the words of Saint Paul.

A child is always self centered and has no reason to think otherwise, a child will cry and complain when demands are not accurately met, if you must grow and become relevant, you should complain less and be more grateful and thankful even for little things. Rather than been self centered, take off the concentration off yourself and care for people genuinely, be more concerned with solving national and global problems rather than been a burden. Achieving this would require that you read wide, think wide, surround yourself with intelligent people, think critically and at the same time by purposing to be a happy person who can smile even at the face of seemingly hopeless situation.

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IS WRITING NOW IRRELEVANT? By Lanre Olagunju

In time past, things have gone into extinction, certainly, in a short time many of the things present today will be regarded as history, in facts, like the case of the dinosaurs’ only pictures and books will be the evidence that such ever existed. But in this world and most likely in the one to come if there is any, writing will ever be relevant. This world I only know little of, and you may want to quickly query how I ever got the hint that there would be another? Books told me. Yes they did.

Reflexively I have made mention of the word “books” twice. Simply because of their eternal value to man’s intellectual well being.

The two common forms of communication remains the oral and written form. The oral form provides the opportunity of listening to the speaker; in which the speaker has the privilege of harnessing the use of both verbal and non verbal communication which includes gesticulation and facial expression.

We have heard and read of great speeches made by remarkable leaders. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and the immortal words of Martin Luther king jnr. are great examples. Even these great orators write and rewrite their address. In fact, the reason that Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was written on the back of a used envelop is why we in the present age have the ample opportunity to a document that has become an American myth.

I can only come to the affirmation that written thought don’t die, and that alone self explain the relevance of writing now and even in future. In recent times, we have seen the importance of writing as a tool for socio- economic growth and an ever powerful apparatus for making yesterday look as real as today.

Though our reading habit may dwindle as each day passes, writing will ever remain a relevant source of preserving information and historic event.

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They Are Still Our Slaves

“We can continue to reap benefits from the black without the effort of physical slavery. Look at the current method of containment that they use on themselves IGNORANCE, GREED, and SELFISHNESS”.

“Their IGNORANCE is the primary weapon of containment. A great man once said, the best way to hide something from Black people is to put it in a book.”

We now live in the information Age. They have gained the opportunity to read any book on any subject through the efforts of their flight for freedom, yet they refuse to read. There are numerous books readily available at boarders, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com not to mention their own black bookstores that provide solid blueprint to reach economic equality (which should have been their fight all along), but few read consistently, if at all”

“GREED is another powerful weapon of containment. Blacks, since the abolition of slavery, have had large amounts of money at their disposal. Last year they spent 10 billion dollars during Christmas, out of their 450billion in total yearly income (2.22%).”

“Any of us can use them as our target market, for any business venture we care to dream up, no matter how outlandish, they will buy into it. Being primarily a consumer people they function totally by greed they continually want more with little thought for saving or investing”

They would rather buy some new sneaker than invest in starting a business. Some even neglect their children to have the latest Tommy or FUBU, and they still think that having a Mercedes, and a big house gives them “status” or that they have achieved their Dream”.

“They are fools! The vast majority of their people are still in poverty because their greed holds them back from collectively making better communities”
“With the help of BET, and the rest of their black media that often broadcasts destructive images into their own homes, we will continue to see huge profits like those of Tommy and Nike. (Tommy Hilfiger has been jeered them, saying he doesn’t want their money, and look at how the fools spend more with him than ever before!). They will continue to show off to each other while we build solid communities with the profits from our businesses that we market to them”

“SELFISHNESS, ingrained in their minds through slavery, is one of the major ways we can continue to contain them. One of their own, Dubious said that there was an innate division in their culture. A ‘Talented Tenth’ he called it. He was correct in his deduction that there are segments of their culture that has achieved some ‘form’ of success’’.

However, that segment missed the fullness of his work. They didn’t read that the ‘Talented Tenth’ was then responsible to aid The Non-Talented Ninety percent in achieving a better life. Instead that segment has created another class, a Buppie class that looks down on their people or aids them in a condescending manner. Their selfishness does not allow them to be able to work together on any project or endeavor of substance. When they do get together, their selfishness lets their egos get in the way of their goal. Their so called help organization seem to only want to promote their name without making any real change in their community”

“They are consent to sit in conferences and convention in our hotels, and talk about what they will do, while they award plaques to the best speaker, but not the best doers. Is there no end to their selfishness? They steadfastly refuse to see to see that Together Each Achieve More (TEAM)”

“They do not understand that they are no better than each other because of what they own, as a matter of fact, most of those buppies are but one or two pay checks away from poverty. All of which is under the control of our pens in our offices and our rooms”

“yes, we will continue to contain them as long as they refuse to read, continue to buy anything they want, and keep thinking they are ‘helping’ their communities by paying dues to organizations which do little other than hold lavish conventions in our hotels. By the way, don’t worry about any of them reading this letter; remember “THEY DON’T READ!!!

P.S: This are the words of Dee Lee.
"larigold" agrees to all of this truthful insult.

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The Essence of Love by lanre Olagunju

There is time for everything under the sun, and presently we are in the season of love but considering the importance and significance of love in the family, the nation, and the world at large, one can’t but keep wondering if love really should be seasonal. Love, due to its complexity, has a whole lot of different meaning to different people but this four letter word hasn’t been impressively understood by all.

During the 17th century, Emperor Fredrick wanted to bring to assertiveness one of his mind bugging observations on the significance of love. So he carried out an experiment that was later discovered to be an expensive one. He gave an order to nurses and baby sitters that they shouldn’t express any form of love or affection to some selected infant, they were permeated to feed them, change their diapers and do all other necessary things apart from expressing love in any form of touch,cuddling, warmth, care and communication.

To the utmost surprise of the monarch and the midwives, all the babies died.

This makes it clear that love is the foundation on which our world operates; with the outcome of this experiment, it becomes obvious that love is vital for existence and survival. Love is one of those indefinable reasons why we stay alive. Love is such an overwhelming affection that can’t really be expressed in words alone. Or how do we explain the death of those infant whose death wasn’t as a result of starvation or chronic disease? but due to the absence of expressive affection in form of touch, cuddling and care.

It has always been difficult to present what one doesn’t possess. Our outward expression is always dominated by the abundance that exists inside. The major reason why we find it difficult most times to love the way we should is probably because we weren’t shown adequate love and affection while growing up. Lets imagine that one of those babies used for the experiment survived, such can’t give what he never had.

For instance, it has been psychologically proven that the reason while a lot of female recognize touch has a love language is mostly because a female ward receives more touches, cuddling, hugs and warm embrace while growing compared to the male. The male in contrast will rather be given a pat at the back, a hand shake, knuckle jamb, a show of the thumb or at times a slight blow to express excitement.

If you weren’t shown enough acceptance and love, you may not have control over that but you are saddled with the responsibility of nurturing yourself, because Until we genuinely love and appreciate our being and individuality, appreciating others would only remain an excruciating task. When you don’t see anything good about yourself how would you see positivity in others? When you don’t say positive things to yourself how would you ever encourage others? After all the love rule is to “love your neighbor the same measure you love yourself”.

It’s absolutely erroneous to think that absence of facial beauty or any kind of deformity would affect others perception towards us, rather it’s our inner beauty and sincerity towards others that showcase who we really are. Most times we think that when we look better, we would be more accepted; hence we begin to major in the minor and minor in the major which is the inner beauty and self acceptance. It doesn’t really work like that, the truth is that you look and become more beautiful when you genuinely accept yourself then love and care for others.

To love at times makes us look vulnerable and stupid because to love is to give and to forgive, to appreciate others, love is bearing others unlikeable behaviour with patience and to keep hope alive.

One could give with ulterior motives without any iota of love, but it is practically impossible to love without giving. The every man for himself god for us all mentality should be buried if we must succeed collectively as a nation. It is a pity that selfishness and greed has become a national culture in our own country which shouldn’t be. When we begin to love genuinely the need to be apprehensive of the future wouldn’t arise since positive investment has been made in others. Most times the things we lack are the things we never gave. After all, we only reap that which we sow

The creator of the cosmos has given us many things for our satisfaction, we don’t pay for the air we breathe neither does He levy us for our ability to think and become creative which distinguishes us from other animals.

If you are still wondering what love really is?

Love is always willing to wait instead of demanding

Love keeps on being friendly to those who aren’t friendly back

Love doesn’t boast about your good grades and qualification

Love admits when he is wrong and shut up when he is right

Love doesn’t think you are better than others because your clothes or phone is more expensive

Love lets others have their own turn talking; it never puts others down by acting as If they don’t count

Love doesn’t lose its temper when a brother or sister finishes the meal or spend too much time in the bathroom

Love never feels doing wrong is cool

Love looks out for the genuine interest of others

Love keeps hoping when the right choices you made don’t turn out the way you wanted.

you will succeed!

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Have you Answered the Ultimate Question? By Lanre Olagunju

The major reason why children are regarded as naive is because of their inquisitive nature. A Child can be so inquisitive to a fault, and since they don’t nurse the fear of being considered foolish or stupid, they maximize their right to ask whatever their minds long to understand.

This is solely responsible for the rapid acquisition of knowledge in children.

Almost the reverse is the case as we grow older; we become less curious to always ask why, not really because adulthood is synonymous to being an highland of knowledge but because it is easier to live by assumptions, though the consequences are high.

A native adage explains that “he who asks for direction wouldn’t miss his way” apart that asking questions provides one with vital information, proper personal questioning serve as a medium: for personal check and balance, self assessment and self actualization.

The human life is quite short and if we must maximize our life and potentials genuine, sincere, precise and thought provoking questions must be asked from time to time.

For instance one of the most crucial questions you could ask yourself is what exactly is my purpose here on earth? But the paradox is that this is a question that too many never ask throughout the journey of life.

If a manufacturer manual came out with our placentas, it would have made the search for purpose easier, however, that we came with no manual is no assurance or indication that there isn’t. We only have to connect to ourselves and God the manufacturer to search out the purpose of our existence.

When purpose is lost or hasn’t been discovered abuse is utterly inevitable, the major reason why some people keep feeling frustrated, dejected and depressed to the extent of committing suicide is simply because they haven’t gotten the question of purpose settled from within.

No doubt at all challenges will appear from time to time in the journey of life but we can be rest assured that achieving our purpose will come with benefit that will bring us long lasting joy.

It’s been discovered that more money comes with more bills and higher taxes, more friends comes with more commitments. In short more materials things do not bring the long lasting joy and fulfillment that we really desire, but understanding and working in ones purpose brings eternal joy.

Since we all want to experience joy, happiness and fulfillment the only source of joy and eternal fulfillment comes from the knowing that we are on the right course and that we are making a difference in the life of others with all of our gifts and talents.

God hasn’t given everything to one person but He has given at least one thing to one person. Come to think of it no country has abundance of all the natural resources required to make life easy and very comfortable for her citizens. Everyone has a distinct uniqueness which could add to the progress of humanity.

The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion to help others. If the older generation have done so much to make life more comfortable through positive contribution and creative inventions. We shouldn’t only be beneficiary; we also owe our generation and the next the responsibility of making our own positive impact by making the world better than we met it.

The earlier one gets on the journey of purpose the better, science has proved that once a person is above twenty five years the bones starts getting weaker and brittle and when over thirty years of age you begin to lose thousands of brain cells each day. Little wonder why the bible encourages carrying ones yoke while one is young.

Enough of chasing the air, enough of doing things that we wouldn’t want to recognize with in future, the same energy use in perpetrating social vices like internet fraud, robbery and kidnapping to mention a few could be channeled to more worthy courses that would make the world a better place, thereby bringing long lasting joy, happiness and fulfillment to oneself.

Year by year we are becoming better equipped to accomplish the things we are striving for. But what are we actually striving for? says a French political scientist. As the New Year approaches you should pay more attention to things that you naturally and passionately love doing because if you check deeply you are most likely born to do such things.

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Five Questions You Must Ask About Your Friends by Lanre Olagunju

No man is an island, says John Donne. The only way to maximize one’s individual capacity and attain height in life is through positive and productive association. Humans are not designed to exist alone. Even the beast of the earth move in packs for survival.

As youth brimming with positive ideas and the zeal to impact positively on our nation, we cannot overestimate the power of good association. It is said that you will remain at your present level of exposure and achievement save for the books you read and the people you associate with.

How would you resist movement once you are in a moving train? The moving train here is the network of friends that you keep and the books you feed your mind with. Many achievers will admit that the achievement they recorded were as a result of their personal decision to associate with the right set of people.

We as impressionable youth should be careful to ensure that those within our circle of influence are those who can challenge us to do our best, criticize us when the need arises, inspire and help us in fine tuning our skills. This is how we can be equipped to correct the wrong in our great nation.

Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are says an old but relevant adage. Ask yourself the following questions about your friends.

Do my friends constructively criticize me or they just give me a pat at the back when I am wrong, thereby encouraging me to give my worst instead of my best?

Are they solution providers and not the problems themselves?

Do they value time and make the best use of it?

Are they passionate about living a life of honour and integrity?

Are they bothered about doing the right things at all time regardless of who is doing the wrong thing?

If your friends are devoid of these virtues, then you are with the wrong set of people. Decide in your heart to be a role model by keeping only friends who reflect the kind of person you would want to be.

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Learn To Always Cherish Your Mum by Lanre Olagunju

One of the best things that can happen to man here on planet earth is to experience the unconditional love of a mother. Most times when we talk about love in its various forms, we forget that the purest form of affection is that which flows from mother to child. It starts from when the child is unknown to the mother in the womb; the pain of getting through a nine month pregnancy is excruciating, the cost of raising a toddler is demanding but in all she wasn’t thinking of herself it was all about you. She didn’t mind being cold so you could stay warm; being hungry so you could be well fed.

If a mother could be paid for all her effort, how much would she charge? How much can you afford to pay? Loving your mother isn’t always synonymous with buying her gift and doing house chores though these too are very important. Living responsibly is your best gift to her; this is especially true for girls. When a child misbehaves, the mother is blamed. When that same child excels, the father takes the glory. Society‘s double standard should spur us to make our mother proud. Always consider how your conduct affects other people. Your mother is insulted when people call you an untrained child and an insult shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is always a pride to mothers when they get good report about their children from strangers. It would make all her effort at bringing you up worthwhile.

Respecting your mum means respecting yourself and those around you. That way your mother would feel blessed she has you for a child when she is accorded respect because of you. But when she is scorned, mocked and ridiculed on the street because of our misbehaviors, she would begin to regret our existence and in fact the day of our conception. Spend time with your mother, talking with her assisting her with house chores. Do not wait till when you are through with school and now earning money to show appreciation. Your mother may be long dead by then, why not show appreciation today? If you care to find out your mother may be more interested in being involved in your life than how much you can give later.

We should learn not to only buy her gift on birthdays alone or mother’s day. As much as you can, cultivate the habit of buying her things she would really cherish or that would hold loving memories of her. It doesn’t really have to be very expensive or rare; the most important thing is that it is coming from your heart.

We shouldn’t always wait for special days to celebrate our mum and all those who mean a lot to us or those who have influenced us positively. In every way we should be creative in expressing our sincere gratitude and love at the slightest opportunity, bearing in mind that they wouldn’t be always around.

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