Volume 50 Issue 9 - September 2012 : Reality Hub

"…..Tsogang! Tsogang!  Banna… Tsogang!  Emang Basadi!  Emang!  Tlhagafalang...re kopaneleng go direla lefatshe la rona…’’ our national anthem is a clear denotation of a rising up of individuals in pursuit of peace, love, beauty and liberty!

As it falls from the lips of the young and old there is a remembrance in every heart and a sense of appreciation to the men who embarked on a mission years ago …great men who put their guards down and fought hand, nail and foot for the country’s independence…and on the 30th September 1966….Bechuanaland was no longer a protectorate. But in spite of such freedoms, at every level possible: be it personal... Spiritual….societal level…! So we go on living life…facing each day with a ‘protectorate mindset’……and we forget that independence is free will!

People still throw cursing words at the ‘white man’ who colonised Bechuanaland…wishing ‘he’ had not brought us education…and various aspects of  ‘his’ western culture. And I ask myself…why do we cry over spilt milk? Why don’t we look at the civilisation that has come out of the seemingly brutal and degrading circumstances our forefathers had to endure …that hit hard against our own accustomed

norms and traditions? We can all admit these seemingly unfortunate experiences only made us who we are today as a nation and as individuals…God has an amazing way of showing His glory in unfavorable situations. So look on the bright side…Had we not gone through all that we did, we might not have a firm appreciation for our culture…our traditions and the essence of unity and peace which we pride ourselves in. So if there be any benefits to this...surely this is one of them!

We do not choose the color of our skin, or which family we are born into. We do not choose when to live and when to die. Some things just happen right? Yes…sometimes we just cannot change some things…but we can change others! God Himself gave us freewill...the freedom to choose, in any given setting, ‘independence’ will sit there in a corner waiting for you to embrace it. Picture a tree…in different seasons. It adapts to a prescribed climate…In autumn it sheds its leaves and it blooms in spring time…and it bears fruit.

There is an independence that is birthed within its very nature…that is the freedom to be itself. As human beings I would like to believe we possess the same independence, possibly encrypted in our DNA...but I have not any proof of that …so I would rather not go into scientific aspects…my vocabulary

may prove to be a tad bit deficient in that area so I wouldd rather not go there……moving on…. lets dig deeper as I try to bring my point across.  Do you know that liberties (fruits of independence)…are a choice?

In any given situation it is always your choice to ensure and safeguard your heart, mind, soul and body from any form of bondage. I believe independence is not predetermined by circumstance, in any given situation no matter how tough it may seem. Independence always lies in a small corner, giving you hope and a peace of mind amidst trying situations. It is always lurking in your mind…it is always standing like a sign post would at a crossroads showing you which way to go. So in case you are wondering what I am on about…  Well…I am sorry ladies I am not talking about prince charming riding on his big shinny horse…and gents…I am certainly not referring to the latest race car model…. although I must admit that Independence comes in different shapes, forms and sizes…it is safe to say it is a breakthrough of any sort. It may not solve a problem or bring immediate calm amidst a heavy storm. But one thing for sure I know is…..it is a decision to find your own peace…and break free from everything and anything that threatens to break you. It is a choice to allow yourself to be sane in the face of insanity...It is a whole lot of things encompassed in one action-Freewill!

 It is a decision to allow you to be OKAY even when things are not OKAY…and I am not talking about a state of denial...No! It is believing in a power higher than ‘you’ and believing that things will be okay…even if things look a little bleak. I am not preaching…though I wish I was…but I am not…I am just telling it like it is…I am telling it like we know it…yet we do not DO.. So we allow the epidemic to eat at the most powerful part of our body…your MIND!  Independence comes with the willingness to break free from bondage of any shape or form, be it in marriage…in relationships…At work. it does not necessarily entail one ending a relationof any sort, nor does it mean one is physically gripped with chains…we can still embrace independence even in a relationship because we first exist as sole beings, so in order to share a part of ourselves with anyone, we should have the independence trait in our minds without shutting anyone out.

Being a protectorate showed us the discomfort of being in bondage….and not being able to express oneself as a sole being. But with our independence we learnt to be free, first from the heart then gradually to our hearts. We need to break away from the chains of a protectorate mindset that is quick to fall prey bondage and all sorts of things. We need to accept that we are going through personal, marital, corporate and spiritual battles. But like the men who fought for our freedom, you need to stand up, take action and embrace your independence.

It is in the power of your hand and in the willingness to receive it.. do not make the mistake of waking up to the next day in regret of anything...bondage is tempting..because you do not make decisions…but it is crippling at all levels. Free your mind of anything that does not resemble independence. Learn to take and breathe and enjoy the liberties of being a sole individual. Fruits of independence include amongst others… freedom to love…to be happy...to laugh… to take responsibility….to make decisions etc… ENDS

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