I used to own a students’ companion book.
It had a creased cover, with fading shade orange. It had pages that were foxed on the edges and that distinct smell of old books.
And I loved it, largely because I had found by myself in the bookshelf and made it my own. It was my “something old” my something treasured.
It was my companion. It was my “search engine”. I depended on it for inspiration, for quotes and for proverbs.
I read and learnt phrases and proverbs from that old orange book.
It remained my precious possession for years. At junior school I borrowed phrases to use during debating competitions. I cannot exactly say I was a strong speaker because then, I was almost all the times shy to speak. I think though some of the phrases I had picked from the students’ companion, made me outdo other candidates and I would often become the best speaker.
I had this favorite quotes that I picked from the students’ companion; and it would ring in my head when I took up the podium to debate.
“Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy
These words gave me a little bit of courage. My heart would beat profusely but I would speak anyway. The words gave me courage to learnt a little pushing myself into uncomfortable places.
They inspired me to win for my country, okay a little exaggeration right there.
The words inspired me to win not just for myself but for my school. Talking gave me the heebie-jeebies but I would think of Kennedy’s words and do it anyway.
So today when those special moments come; the moments when I get to see people doing something for their countries, my memory of the quote is revived.
“Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.”
When people do it not just for themselves but for their countries I shed tears of joy.
From Olympians, beauty pageants to entrepreneurs. I feel exceptional joy in my heart that their actions and wins are not just for themselves.
Their wins are for their countries.
The recent wins in men’s 800m race by Nijel Amos made me think about this quote.
Amos made history in Botswana. He gave the country the first ever medal at the commonwealth Olympic games. It was silver medal but to the country that had been hungry for years this was as good as a gold medal. He has been doing it since; running his heart out and raising the flag high for Botswana.
I am proud of Amos for making such great strides, the young man has an incredible future ahead of him. Such people are doing it for their nations.Of course there are many others making their nations proud.
Some are doing it behind the scenes, reaching out to the poor and extending a helping hand.
Some have created trust funds and are funding students who would not otherwise have managed to pursue their dreams.
Some are building businesses creating opportunities and jobs for others, providing the solutions for our lives.
The question we should each ask ourselves is why we should desire to do something for our countries?
You should desire to do something for your country because a lot of things happen when you win.
What happens when you win?
When you win it isn’t just for yourself but it is also for your countries and for the rest of the world.
When you win, you give people a little bit of hope.
You give hope to that someone from a background similar to yours that they too could do something significant. They hear about your stories of success and struggle and become inspired.
When you win you show others that they can also make a difference. You become an example. You show others that a boy from Marobela can run and win, that a girl without a budget can do humanitary work and that their dreams are possible.
When you win you turn the ignition on. You ignite a spark in somebody’s heart. You give someone a desire to want to break away from the limitations that keeps them grounded.
Conclusion
Your willingness to want to do it for your country will remind somebody that their life is a possibility. Go ahead and take those winning steps.Don’t restrain yourself from trying, go ahead and do the things that will have a lasting impact.
Go give others the ability to say “I think I can do that too”.