If you are realistic, forget discovery

This week, I couldn’t help but be disturbed by all the bad news coming in from around the world – bombings, shooting, kidnapping. It was therefore so wonderful to see an oasis of inspiration in the midst of it all.

This was none other than seeing Kenya’s First Lady take part in the London Marathon. Not only was it inspiring, but also insightful.

First, it all started with a cause – the elimination of preventable maternal and early childhood deaths, and the decision to buy mobile clinics for each county.

Many people are not motivated to do anything significant in life because they have no cause beyond themselves. Having a cause – a reason to take action that is beyond you – is a very powerful stimulant in any area.

Secondly, she looked within herself for the solution. Many people start by looking outside. They look for what people can do without looking at what they can do. They want to task others but not themselves.

Living your life solely on the faith and vision of others makes you a parasite. People are more likely to support you when you are already doing something about what you want. The first lady looked inside and decided she would run.

Now, let us look at the implications of that decision.

I can imagine the different objections she probably received – people telling her that first ladies did not run public marathons, that they had to look like gorgeous dolls beside their husbands at functions, and visit children’s homes.

They must be the picture perfect epitome of being a lady. All the workout and preparation and sweating is so un-first-lady-like, I imagine her being told.

Next, I imagine the security advice. How do you effectively protect a principal who is running in public space with so many people lining the streets? It must have been a security nightmare.

The point is, every dream will always have logical objections. There will be people asking you to be realistic.

The truth of the matter is that if we were realistic, we would be no different from the masses. Only those who are able to stretch the boundaries of reality will ever make a mark on this earth.

It was not realistic to send a man to the moon but the boundaries of reality were stretched and it happened. It was not realistic to think that we could have one phone number to use anywhere in the world, but the boundaries of reality were stretched.

Today we roam with our lines. It was not realistic for me to be in Mozambique and write this article and send it to Kenya only hours to its publication, but the boundaries of reality were stretched and emails came.

Think of the number of things that are today viewed as not being realistic. It just takes someone crazy enough to stretch and redefine the boundaries of reality to make it real.

Watching the first lady at the start line was truly refreshing. The truth is that if she did not finish the race, it would still have been an inspiring story. Yet she went ahead and conquered 42km, leaving another powerful lesson.

I listen to motivational speakers who always tell us what different people said and I ask them what they are saying. It does not take much to simply repeat the thoughts of others. What are your own thoughts? Are they as inspiring as the thoughts of those that you quote?

Every dream has a demand and only those who are ready to pay the price of their dreams will ever wake up to achieve them. Many people fail at this point because of what it takes.

Think of the first lady leaving the comfort of the State house to go into the cold to practice. Think of the demand of that simple dream.
Whatever your dream today, we have been given a very simple blueprint by none other than the First Lady of Kenya.

Who is defining your reality? Some people walk in already defined realities while others define their own reality. The choice is yours.
Have a very realistic weekend!