WHERE FOOD IS FREE…

‘Where food is free, many will come’ (Nigeria-Yoruba)

No matter how cultured, civilized, rich, exposed, principled or learned you are, you would most likely not want to turn down the offer of any of the sumptuous FREE meal above. Yes, they are for free. It doesn't cost you any dime to have one for yourself, all you have to do is to sit conveniently and eat; nothing more. Now, if you could easily accept this FREE offer, imagine the number of people who would do the same.

No doubt, whatever comes freely attracts many people. If you want to attract people’s attention, try offering them something valuable for free. Don’t care about the initial loss, consider it as a sacrifice. The greatest asset in life is not the houses that you build or the cars that you drive but the people you can easily influence. No business idea, political regime, policy, institution or religious belief can succeed without commanding the attention of people. Once you can get hold of people’s attention, the closer you are to success.

As from today, try to focus on how to attract many people to whatever you do instead of considering the profit that you would make from it. Don’t be afraid to offer something very valuable for free; remember, it is just a sacrifice, you would definitely see the reward very soon. In whatever you do, don’t forget that ‘where food is free, many will come’ and wherever there are people, there is always money in abundance. So, why not make it FREE?

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

HOW MANY ARE YOUR FRIENDS?

‘If you have no friends, you are really poor’ (Somalia)

Please, kindly do something for me before you read further. Make sure you do exactly what I say. Relax for some minutes and start counting the number of friends that you have; I mean your genuine friends. How many are they? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6… are you still counting?

Truly, genuine friends are very difficult to get; it takes a genuine person to attract genuine people to himself/herself. If you decide not to have any friend because nobody around you seems to be genuine, it means that you are either not personally genuine or you don’t have any genuine qualities that can attract the few genuine people around you to yourself.

Everything in this world revolves around people. No one can succeed in life without the influence or contribution of other people. It is either you make the people around you your friends or your enemies. Your ability to achieve many things in life and become successful depends on the number of friends you have and the way you manage them.

Today, try to do something unusual. Write down the names of your genuine friends, then start calling or contacting them one after the other; appreciate their influence and contribution in your life and let them know how richly endowed you are because of their presence in your life. You will definitely be surprised with what you would get in return. Just try it! And in case you’ve got no friend, admit to the fact that you are poor; then start taking some bold steps from today towards building a strong network of genuine friends. Work on your self and start making yourself assessable and friendly to the people around you. May your riches be plenty!

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

WHAT MAKES A CHIEF?

‘You do not become a chief simply by sitting on a big stool’ (Ghana)

We do not determine if someone is a chief by the size of stool he/she sits on. Anybody can sit on any type of stool that he likes (either big or small) and that does not make him a chief. It is not anybody that becomes a chief. Before anyone could be made a chief in any kingdom, society or community, the person must have been regarded as somebody and not just anybody.

Being a chief has to do with what a person knows about the society (i.e. the transitional knowledge from the predecessors which is usually hereditary) or what a person can contribute to the development of the society.

Also in life, you do not become successful or an achiever by the type of cars that you drive, the cloth or jewelry that you wear, the wives/husbands that you marry, the children that you reproduce, the houses that you build, the degrees that you acquire, the position that you attain or the money that you have in your bank account. You can only become a successful person or an achiever by what you know, the application of your knowledge and by the number of lives that you have touched (i.e. the people you have helped to become successful)

As from today, if you want to become an achiever or a successful person in whatever you do, always ask yourself these two questions:
(i) How much do I know about what I do?
(ii) How many people have I been able to influence and make successful as a result of what I do?

Remember, ‘you do not become a chief simply by sitting on a big stool. Why not jump up now and start doing something positive with your life? It’s only one life you have got.

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO?

‘It is a short way in the forest if you love the people you are going to visit’ (DRC-Mongo)

No matter how far the journey to the people you love is, you would always want to go there again and again. The love you have for the people you go to visit usually serves as the force that pushes you forward and makes the journey worthwhile.

Also in life, no matter how difficult any task is, it would always be easy for you to execute, if it is what you love and enjoy doing. Instead of seeing the difficulties, the stigma, the challenges, the risk, the stress and pain associated with what you do, it is only the love and passion that you have for it that would keep you going.

As from today, try to do the things that you love doing; irrespective of the monetary benefits or comfort that you may derive from it. Note this today, when the cash stops flowing in, the task may become uncomfortable for you; it is only the love, zeal and passion that you have for the task, job, project, etc. that would sustain you and make you successful. Remember, there’s always a short cut to creativity and productivity for people who do what they enjoy doing. Do you love what you do?

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

AN EMPTY MOUTH

‘The one who is too talkative leaves his mouth empty’ (East Africa)

Being too talkative does not really mean talking too much, it refers to the situation where a person lacks the ability to control what he or she says.

People who are practically talkative usually have no secrets. They say whatever comes to their mind whenever and don’t care what may happen as a result of what they say; hence they easily get into trouble.

Today, if you want people (your friends, colleagues at work or family members) to value what you say and respect your words; you need to avoid being too talkative. Watch what you say, don’t just talk, don’t make empty promises and don’t brag about what you can’t do. Instead of being the only one talking; be calm, learn how to listen to people and appreciate their contributions. Don’t just allow anybody to get access to your life as a result of what you say. Remember, ‘the one who is too talkative leaves his mouth empty’. May your mouth never be empty.

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

THE MAGICAL WORD

‘A gentle word sends the sword back into the scabbard’ (Nigeria-Igbo)

Yes, our ancestors believe that soft words are usually magical. Do you know that the words you speak have the tendency to make you or destroy you? The greatest victory in the world is not determined by the thrusting of your sword, the triggers that you pull, the missile that you drop or the weight of your fist, but it is by the gentle words that you speak.

A gentle word hurts no one, it isn’t irritating, provocative, pompous, lousy, rude or abusive. It is practically gentle. You can’t fake it; if it isn’t gentle, it can never be spoken gently.

Today; if you want to win big in whatever you do, try using the gentle word approach. You would be surprised with the magical effect that this approach would have on the people that you relate with. Remember, don’t fake it, allow it to come freely and gently. Feel free to share your experience here. Have a great day!

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

CROSSING THE WIDE RIVER

‘The river may be wide, but it can be crossed’ (Cote d’Ivoire)

Have you ever attempted to cross any river before? How was your experience? Really, it could be very challenging to cross some river in life. You are not expected to be frightened or feel intimidated by the size of the river or its depth; if you don’t believe that you can cross it, you may never get to the other side of the river.

The river of your life may be anything that you need to do before you get to the next level in life. It may be the project you are currently working on or the crucial decision you need to make in your life in order to be great.

Anything that represents a river in your life today may be very deep and wide but it can always be crossed. No matter how challenging your current situation is, you can always cross to the next level as long as you are focused and determined.

Don’t be discouraged, always believe in yourself and never allow anyone to deceive you that your present problem, sickness, weakness or shortcoming will overcome or destroy you. If you continue to do the right thing at the right time, there will surely be a way forward.

Never compromise your standard, aim for the best today and don’t just only aim for the best; GO FOR IT! May you not be drowned in the river of life. Today, you will surely cross to greater level of your achievements in life. Believe it!

Don't start your day without a word from the ancestors...remember, a word is enough for the wise. Sign up with us for a daily feed. Follow @our_ancestors on twitter or email: wordsofourancestors@gmail.com. May your days be plenty!

A BROKEN RIB

An elephant does not die of one broken rib (South Africa-Azania)

If you think you can kill an elephant by just breaking one of its ribs, then you must be joking. An elephant is not just like any other animal in the forest that you can afford to pull down or frighten anyhow.

Like the elephants, you need to see yourself as a creature that can never be pulled down by any challenge, problem, trial or hindrance on your way to success in life. You need to be always conscious that no matter how though your problem is, it can never kill you. Even if your closest friend, your partner, your greatest idea, your ambition, your employer, your employee or your family fails you, don’t be bothered; they are all like one broken rib which can’t kill you.

As from today, take time to believe in yourself and the power that lies within you. Today, try to do the things you have always been afraid of doing. Though you may encounter some challenges on your way, take a bold step forward and ensure that you do what will make the world proud of you. Please, start NOW!

SNAKE IS SNAKE

There is no difference between mother and baby snake, they are equally poisonous (Kenya)

Snakes are usually identified as dangerous reptiles because of their deadly poison. No matter how big or small, long or short a snake is, they are equally poisonous. So, we may be right to conclude that a snake symbolizes anything that is dangerous, deadly or poisonous, irrespective of its size, volume, nature or quantity.

As from today, it is always good for you to abstain totally from whatever you or the society consider dangerous to your life. No matter how careful or considerate you are in managing what is considered dangerous or deadly, you are only deceiving yourself. You have got only one life to live, so don’t risk it on what is worthless.

Today (second Wednesday of the year 2013) is a special day. Please, try to stay away from trouble, unprotected sex, abortion, crime, reckless driving, drug abuse, drinking irresponsibly and anything that can destroy your future projection. At every point in your life today, always remember that there is no difference between mother and baby snake…have a peaceful day.

BURNING TOGETHER

‘Houses built close together burn together’ (South African – Azania)

The kind of people that you spend most of your time with, determines how far you will go in life. A saint who is always seen among criminals would either be addressed as a criminal or the saint of the criminals.

As from today, watch the kind of friends that you keep and always be mindful of not building your house (i.e. your valuables, your career, your future, your family, business, etc.) around people who are careless with fire.

Today, endeavor to observe the kind of people that you enjoy being in their company. Then, ask yourself if they are truly worthy to be with. Never hesitate to disassociate yourself from any careless and redundant relationship today or else, your house may soon get burnt. Have a beautiful day!