Indeed, “vanity upon vanity, all is vanity”, so says a popular saying. The Mafia Manager (a book), told me, “the world lives on pretense”! It must be noted that most times we humans place too much priority on what really matter less in life (material things) while that which is the real essence of life (our attitudes toward fellow human beings) are often neglected and most times not taken seriously!

My intention is to speak to all and at the same time speak to myself as I write and as you read along. One thing is very certain in this life we have all come to rent, and that is death! The question is, if you close your eyes in death today, what is that positive impact that you have made in the life of a fellow human being that you will be remembered for? Many place their “achievements” on the number of houses, cars, certificates, degrees, women, men, influences they ‘possess’ to themselves not minding how they ‘acquire’ those things they love to show-off at the slightest opportunities they have! It is common knowledge that we came into this world naked and it is very certain that we shall return naked, therefore those ‘material things’ (of course they are necessary) we love to brag about and the natural talents we possess would not matter anymore after our demise except the positive impacts we have used those ‘material things’ and natural talents to create. Life is transient, what we do to others matters most than what we possess for ourselves.

Two individuals came to mind as I write, they are:

1) Samantha Smith
2) Nkosi Johnson

• Samantha Smith: was an American schoolgirl, peace activist and child actress from Manchester, Maine, who became famous in the Cold War era United States and Soviet Union. In 1982, Smith wrote a letter to the newly appointed CPSU General Secretary Yuri Andropov, and received a personal reply which included a personal invitation to visit the Soviet Union, which she accepted. (died at age 13)!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Smith

• Nkosi Johnson: Nkosi was born to Nonthlanthla Daphne Nkosi in a township east of Johannesburg in 1989. He never knew his father. Nkosi was HIV-positive from birth, and was legally adopted by Gail Johnson, a Johannesburg Public Relations practitioner, when his own mother, debilitated by the disease, was no longer able to care for him. Nkosi made a powerful impact on public perceptions of the pandemic and its effects before his death at the age of 12. He was ranked fifth amongstSABC3's Great South Africans. At the time of his death, he was the longest-surviving HIV-positive born child. (died at age 12)!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkosi_Johnson

These two children were “too small” to face challenges (as we would always say because of their ages) yet were able to surmount those challenges. One was segregated against, yet won many to his side through his works. One was maligned, yet radiates love. They were forgotten in death but remembered by providence and posterity. They were determined to change their world and those in it and that they did with unalloyed excellence. Above all, even though they were snatched away by the cold hand of death in their primes, yet were able to achieve what an octogenarian would struggle so hard to achieve. They are immortal in their deeds and in the hearts of those they have touched!
Moral of this article; let’s learn to give back to LIFE, that which will outlast LIFE!

shai!!! if u say na just me i we be living like i don care, 1st to comment? but y always me? or am i a learner?

Food for thought

I watched a documentary about Nkosi Johnson some years back and I felt like crying.

This space is ƒøЯ future use.

Wat position am I?...... Critics re welcomed.

Uhhh Life indeed a rent dat is just a fact of life.

I want to be remembered as the one who lived and educated/enlightened other people about SCD and why those that live with it should be loved and not pitied, and given a chance to prove themselves worthy.

Life is like a fairytale!
I still find it difficult to believe I will eventually leave this life and rot in the grave.could God spare me frm dearth forever?
God pls I don't wannna die!

Every good thing

the christian community of ogoni land will never forget my NYSC year from march 2012 to feb 2013, the rural rugged evangelisms, school outreach, skill aquisition programms,.........sometimes i and my fellow jesus corpers will stand hours under the rain praying and distributing drugs n materials to people we have never met in ourlives, we go from community to community and spend days without taking our baths, sleeping in the open fields with just our nysc kahki n jesus corper shirt. no wonder when we where passing out....they where all in tears!!!! this is just the begining of greater things to be done..............

I will remmemmber for haveing Banana Iland Mansion and my great title Kasabubu 1 of Banana Iland, Ikoyi Legos, all prase to Allah & Obatala.

I just want to be remembered as that guy that 'put smiles on the faces of many people as possible' before my time expires!

Hmmmn I gatz 2 hav babies ...itz part ov sumtin 2 b rememberd 4 ..Much wealth no child na "Banza" ..Meanwhile *runz off d thread 2 slam suzan direct contact*

I will be humbly remembered for Empowering millions of people with my God given talents.....Thank you Lord, so grateful for the privilege..

amiskurie: Life is like a fairytale!
I still find it difficult to believe I will eventually leave this life and rot in the grave.could God spare me frm dearth forever?
God pls I don't wannna die!

my sentiments, exactly.

That Nkosi Johnson's story is touching.
Ironically, "there's no specific way to live a life, just do what works well for yourself".
I want to be remembered for good.

avalontony: the christian community of ogoni land will never forget my NYSC year from march 2012 to feb 2013, the rural rugged evangelisms, school outreach, skill aquisition programms,.........sometimes i and my fellow jesus corpers will stand hours under the rain praying and distributing drugs n materials to people we have never met in ourlives, we go from community to community and spend days without taking our baths, sleeping in the open fields with just our nysc kahki n jesus corper shirt. no wonder when we where passing out....they where all in tears!!!! this is just the begining of greater things to be done..............

u mean am?
Abeg tell me more ...

nice inspiring stuff

funniest man's alive who ever lived Round me always like to be around cuz of my funny ways

victorian: I will be humbly remembered for Empowering millions of people with my God given talents.....Thank you Lord, so grateful for the privilege..

Good Job, you will not lose your reward!

It's not the number of years that counts, but the amount of impact that is made. By the time you die, will you leave the earth better than you met it#FoodForThought

I'm sure if these kids were alive as nairalanders 2day, they would have better things to do than announcing to other nairalanders that they are the 1st to comment because 1st to comment would take them nowhere... I pray the adults that behave like kids grow up. Amen

[img]http://www.learnweek.com/?r=casey001[/img]

[img]http://www.learnweek.com/?r=casey001[/img] i don't know

Abali1: I want to be remembered as the one who lived and educated/enlightened other people about SCD and why those that live with it should be loved and not pitied, and given a chance to prove themselves worthy.

what useless education could u possible be giving them / what the eff is SCD

Okiki_Oluwa: That Nkosi Johnson's story is touching.
Ironically, "there's no specific way to live a life, just do what works well for yourself".
I want to be remembered for good.

I have to agree with you, but your signature column is comical to say the least

tomakint:
I have to agree with you, but your signature column is comical to say the least

u mean dz present one talking abt a mod?

tomakint:
Yeah

ow k. Dat chick banned me cos of Tonto Dike! Just cos of common Toto Decay!
Nairaland's FP don suffer.

Okiki_Oluwa: u mean dz present one talking abt a mod?

Yeah