“As long as there is life, there is hope”.
This is a popular saying among people. No matter how diverse in culture, tradition, and religious belief or otherwise, we all believe this. I strongly believe that this was the same thinking and mentality some of the world greatest men (men who affected history and is still affecting it) had when they were nothing but pawns being tossed around by the whims and wishes of life, struggling to get a grip on the jutting arm of the branch called success.
It isn’t uncommon knowledge that most of the really great, were not born into riches, or even average rich homes. They came from “the gutters”. Though, that being the case, it never stopped them from aiming high and not only wishing, they literally “worked their asses off” to attain it, positively affecting the world we live in today.
I have read about Oprah Winfrey. I cried some and more, jumped and screamed in happiness too. Her story is the perfect fairy tale, I often refer to her as “The Real Life Cinderella”, the queen of queens. There are several others like her, coming from the humblest of backgrounds, who have in some way contributed a huge quota in shaping the world as we know it today both in academics, politics, sports, etc.
Can we talk about famous rulers without mentioning Genghis Khan, or Alexander the Great? Talk international football without the name Pele coming up? Say something about African-American success and leave out Oprah? Can we talk science and skip Michael Faraday’s name? NO WE CAN’T!
These individuals and so many more have made their marks on history despite their backgrounds, they set their names in the stones of time infinity simply by not giving up. I often say to myself “The only hindrances to greatness are unwillingness and lack of determination to be great”.
I say again “When there is life, there is hope”, all that matters now is how that hope is put to use!!