velero1

In tribute to the great Nelson Mandela I leave this article I wrote on May 10, 2011 in the midst of the greatest depression I’ve experienced in my life.

Certainly we all have  desolate moments in our life, feeling in the darkest corner of our soul that our life keel over for what we are experiencing, that something called life is happening  and that often has no explanation, beyond our understanding we asked a thousand times why this happens? Why me? why now? and we can spend hours, days, months, years asking these questions. However there is a decision that every human being has the choice of taking in adversity, that choice is our attitude towards circumstances. It’s not what happens what determines our fate but what we do with what happens. It is not we fall down, but how fast we get up and continue on our path.

It is clear that we have no control of everything or rather, do not really have control of anything in life, because as said very wisely Mario Benedetti «when you think you have all the answers, life will change all the questions,» but certainly we do have control of our attitudes, how we receive things and the actions we take in this regard.

There are many stories of people who have lived really difficult things and yet still live life with a purpose, with a meaning. This is the case of Nelson Mandela who spent 27 years in prison and when got out there in an effort to unify his country-South Africa-was able to continue fighting for his cause that was to achieve freedom of South African black men, which achieved by becoming the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

During those 27 years he was in prison, Nelson Mandela constantly read the poem «Invictus» that reminded him that he was the master of his destiny. Below I share this beautiful poem:

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

Author: William Ernest Henley

If at this time you are in a dark period of your life where you think the universe is conspiring against you because your life is not what you want, know that your only true freedom lies in choosing your attitude towards life.

Your experiences and thoughts would be of high value for those who need to hear your words, please write your comments and share this post with your friends and love ones.

Love

Sandra