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    Mirrors Of Hope
    Mirrors Of Hope
    Mirrors Of Hope
    Ebook111 pages1 hour

    Mirrors Of Hope

    By Peter Mokoena

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    About this ebook

    Mirrors of Hope portrays an inspirational outlook that brings together a diversity of unrelated experiences which befalls every person for no definitive reason. It presents Hope as a catalyst for inspiration and resilience throughout diverse walks of life; that in the midst of these unpleasant and unwelcomed occurrences, people have the ability and responsibility to bounce back and pursue their goals and fulfil their purpose. This book signifies the ability and willingness to allow these relentless challenges to change and shape one’s character positively; to be resilient and committed in pursuing an intended objective until it is accomplished. The book equally reveals a number of relatable and practical propositions to enhance productivity and efficiency, whether as a personal endeavour or a business project.

    Peter Mokoena spent over 20 years of his professional career in the banking and corporate sectors, including Foreign Exchange Control and International Trade Centre (ITC) in South Africa, before relocating to the United Kingdom in 2002. This daring move was meant to be a temporary experiment; however, it turned out to be a priceless and life-changing lesson for him and his family. He furthered his postgraduate studies in medical science specialising in diagnostic imaging in the quest to broaden his professional career. He has practised extensively both in the National Health Service as well as private healthcare throughout the UK. Peter is a keen advocate of staying abreast of matters of social interest, amongst others, as well as to engage and contribute positively whenever possible. He upholds an obsessional drive for uncompromising principles to strive for authenticity, commitment, honesty and respect on personal or corporate engagements. These are the values which he cannot trade for anything.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPeter Mokoena
    Release dateAug 24, 2020
    ISBN9781005915391
    Mirrors Of Hope

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    • 5/5
      What is said in this book is so true , this is what is happening in our daily lives .This book is alive ,these are the days of our lives.

    Book preview

    Mirrors Of Hope - Peter Mokoena

    PREFACE

    A mirror is a reflective object that helps the user to see themselves or others, or their surroundings, with the intention: (1) to take a good look at their faces or body appearance, or the environment around them, such as the house mirror, side mirrors and rear mirrors in most motor vehicles, motorbikes, etc.; (2) to make an informed and calculated decision to change, alter, or modify an unsatisfactory appearance, such as imperfect face make-up, or to delay changing lanes on the road as you notice the oncoming traffic, in order to avoid potential accidents, injuries or even loss of lives.

    This book follows the inquisitive recounting of events and storytelling that provokes critical thinking with a positive motivational end. It talks about the dynamics of hope, as reflected through the daily incidents and experiences from varied walks of life. Hope is an emotive subject; it is both objective and subjective, depending on the perspective of your past experiences as well as what you are currently going through. If you have experienced continuous negative reactions for the best part of your life, especially from those close to you – your best friends and family – just the mention of the word ‘hope’ can provoke anger and anguish of untold magnitude.

    I am intrigued by the way Morgan Freeman recounts the negative experience of unfulfilled promises which crushed all the hope of getting parole for his friend: "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." [1] On the other hand, if everything about your survival prospects depend on this one slim chance of a tiny wire called hope, then hope beyond hopelessness is what you must hold onto. The core central theme that this book advocates is best embodied in this quintessential and yet thought-provoking sentiment cited by Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne) in Stephen King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption in the epic movie, Shawshank Redemption (1994): "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things – and no good thing ever dies." [1]

    Ladies and gentlemen, this book is not just a book or a story, but an experience. It is a collective account of emotional experiences that befall every living person on earth; but most remarkably, it is an inspiration of hope and a stubborn refusal to quit the battles and failures of life. It is even so, a conviction and assurance of knowing that in the process of life each person is running their own personal race. It does not matter how many battles and rounds of fights you have lost or still losing, the war is not over yet; it does not matter how many times you fall down; pick yourself up just one more time, dust off the debris, square up your shoulders, and move on, there are still many fights to be fought and many races to be won. This book carries the message of resilience, perseverance, tenacity, conviction, passion, hope and inspiration to everyone regardless of any discriminatory disparities.

    The former prime minister of Great Britain, Sir Winston Churchill, epitomised the centrepiece message which the author advocates in this book when he concluded his address to Harrow School on October 29, 1941 in the following line: "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." [2]

    INTRODUCTION

    Let us embark on this explorative journey by addressing this subjective question: What do you see at any given moment when you are offered an opportunity to look at yourself in the mirror? Well, under normal conditions, most people, if not all, should see their smooth perfect faces as well as their nicely built curvatures; whatever they would like to see, unless they present some form of visual impairment. The follow-up question would then be: How would you like to see this figure, this image, this face or body that you are staring at? I mean this is you; what shape, what personality and emotions would you like to see being exposed at any time of the day or night whenever you look into the mirror? Mirrors cannot lie, you know; they have never lied and never will. When you look into the mirror, you cannot see anyone else but you, unless if you are delusional; then you will see somebody or something else, or maybe nothing, who knows. Have you seen some of those positive motivational pictures of a tiny cat staring at itself in the mirror and for some unknown cognitive reason see a big strong lion? Well, that’s just for dreams and certainly not for the real world. Furthermore, this book is a collection of personal observations and reflections which transcends from religious beliefs to abstract metaphors, from evidence-based accounts to personal cultural and generational wisdom. They transcend from sweet daydream imaginations to unending misfortunes and failures beyond human tolerance. It is in the midst of all these inquisitive explorations and unpredictable adventures that one figures out the essence of hope; that "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things – and no good thing ever dies". [1] Perhaps it is equally critical that we remind ourselves of those eccentric, powerful and emotional lyrics from that timeless song by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes [3] – ‘Wake up everybody’. Herold Melvin calls on the teachers to put their minds and hearts into teaching, guiding and leading with passion in order to impart positive identity to the young ones and most of the time the vulnerable that are entrusted into their care. He calls on the preachers and pastors to indulge themselves in spiritual doctrines and preach the one and only undiluted Bible truths. He calls on the police and the public servants to execute their duties impartially and professionally, and to lead ethical and exemplary lifestyles. He calls on the politicians and lawmakers to reform the statutes and the laws with the intention to guide all citizens and communities harmoniously without any intended or unintended discriminatory prejudice. He calls on everybody to wake up and do what their Creator and the Universe enables them to pursue and to accomplish. This is a challenge to everybody to get into action and stop the mundane habit of complaining and moaning.

    My call to all those who will read this book is that we need to engage our brains to think relentlessly until we derive solutions to the pandemics that have plagued our communities for generations and generations with no accountability whatsoever. It is heart-breaking even to mention our crime-infested sickness and disease-ridden societies, let alone the scourge of drugs that kills our young people like flies, both boys and girls alike. And the young boys and young men who are persistently haunted by the demon of suicide. At the helm of this sickening curse are governments and corporate institutions that are swamped with unimagined degrees of corruption and back-stabbings, not to mention greed and lust that have even creeped into the holy temples of our Most High God to levels we have never seen before. I am reminded of this emotional and passionate Xhosa expression by Mr Sipho Pityana [4], the South African member of parliament, when he paid tribute at the special funeral service of the late fellow MP, Reverend Stofile Makhenkesi at Fort Hare University, in Eastern Cape, South Africa on August 25, 2016, to the grieving audience, he said: Zemk’inkomo magwalandini ("There goes your heritage, you cowards"). The moral of the saying in this context is that humankind is dying from diverse attacks and drowning in the pool of selfish ambition and personal enrichment, while we have capable men and women pointing fingers and accusing one another. All it takes for evil to prevail and thrive is for the good men and women to say nothing, and do nothing; or, to turn a blind eye and look in the different direction. I hope to awaken the fiery spirit and a yearning passion of hope and the cry for self-actualisation within every person who will read this book, and to inspire the courage and determination to keep moving in fighting for the ultimate victory of our journey – The Dreams of Our Destiny. May Mirrors of Hope be

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