Stay focused and live a happy life because there is no competition in Destiny

Nadia Buari shared this insightful advisory narrative below:

"I was jogging one day and I noticed a person in front of me, about 1/4 of mile. I could tell he was running a little slower than me and I thought, good, I shall try to catch him. I had about a mile to go my path before I needed to turn off. So I started running faster and faster. Every block, I was gaining on him just a little bit. After just a few minutes I was only about 100 yards behind him, so I really picked up the pace and pushed myself. U would have thought I was running in the last leg of London Olympic competition. I was determined to catch him. Finally, I did it! I caught and passed him by.

On the inside I felt so good. "I beat him" of course, he didn't even know we were racing. After I passed him, I realized I had been so focused on competing against him that I had missed my turn. I had gone nearly six blocks past it. I had to turn around and go all back. Isn't that what happens in life when we focus on competing with co- workers, neighbors, friends, family, trying to outdo them or trying to prove that we are more successful or more important? We spend our time and energy running after them and we miss out on our own paths to our God given destinies. The problem with unhealthy competition is that it's a never ending cycle.

There will always be somebody ahead of u, someone with better job, nicer car, more money in the bank, more education, a prettier wife, a more handsome husband, better behaved children, etc. But realize that "U can be the best that u can be, u are not competing with no one." Some people are insecure because they pay too much attention 2 what others are doing, where others are going, wearing & driving. Take what God has given u, the height, weight & personality. Dress well & wear it proudly! U'll be blessed by it. Stay focused and live a healthy life. There's no competition in DESTINY.. Run ur own RACE and wish others WELL!"

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ VERDANT STORIES SECTION...FORBIDDEN >>>>> Garba was the only one of his father's twelve sons who agreed to get an education in his town. His mum was the last of 4 wives and so encouraged him to go and learn the white man's way. "I have heard that when you go to that school in the town, you will never have to work in the farm or roam about with cattle. You will grow wise and work in the white man's place," his mother had said. His father had been skeptic and suspicious of the Whiteman. The Whiteman had come to Dogongari, Garba's village and had taken residence there. And because Garba's father, Dandogo was the village head. the Whiteman became his friend. Once, the Whiteman had given him some coloured water from a bottle to drink. He had observed the Whiteman drinking it and when the Whiteman had offered him, he drank. It tasted sharp yet inviting. He was soon enjoying it and before long, he had begun to talk too much and laughing. His chiefs had been alarmed. Dandogo was even telling the Whiteman how he intended to• many a fifth wife. His chiefs were surprised. No man spoke about such things in public. They suspected that the Whiteman had put something in the drink. What kind of a golden-coloured drink was it anyway? When Dandogo got up, he staggered and almost fell had his chiefs not held him. Then he began to talk all sorts ofrubbish, his eyes rolled up. They took him home. They put him in bed and his wives waited upon him. He slept for long and only woke up at noon. Later when his subjects told him what had happened, he refused to accept. He could not recall ever saying anything or how he got home. But of course he remembered he had been drinking with the Whiteman. Then he reasoned that the Whiteman must have given him something bad to drink that he had lost his senses. When the Whiteman was asked what it was he gave the head-chief, he said it was just rum. Ever since, Dandogo had been wary of him and his agents. Now, the same man had told him of his school in town and said Dandogo should bring some of his children to the school. At first he had refused, suspecting that the Whiteman wanted to kidnap them. "If he runs away with our children, where do we know he came from that we will go and look for him?" Dandogo said to his chiefs. But the Whiteman was persistent, telling him of the benefits. Still Dandogo would not accept. Instead, he nominated other people's children and hid his own. The children that went to town to the Whiteman's school came to the village three times a year and they had begun to understand the Whiteman's language and were able to write like the Whiteman on chalk slates. They were different from the other children. "Well, he has not kidnapped the children but only made them be like him," Dandogo said one day when the Whiteman came to urge him to bring his children to the school. Now, based on what he had told his children about the Whiteman's trick to kidnap them, none of his children wanted to go to the school. But Garba who was only seven years had his mother to encourage him. And that was how Garba got the chance to go to school. "Now listen, Garba," his father said. "When you go to the Whiteman's school, be careful, don't drink any coloured water because it will make you forget yourself, don't do the Whiteman's religion and don't let him deceive you." "Yes, father," Garba said. His mother put a hand on his head. "Always be a good boy. Never ever fight, learn the Whiteman's way very well. It is an easy way to be rich without hard work," she said. The news had gone round Dogongari that one of Dandogo, the village head's sons was going to the Whiteman's school. "Your son could be a doctor, a lawyer, a government official, an engineer or anything he's good at as he grows," the Whiteman said to Dandogo on the day the school children were to depart the village. Dandogo did not know what the Whiteman meant. "Just don't deceive my son and don't make him do your religion,- Dandogo said through the interpreter as usual. Garba was dressed in a white shirt and brown Khaki shorts that the Whiteman had given to him that early morning. He looked smart in it. His mother was crying that he was leaving. The Whiteman took the children in a rickety mammy wagon and drove down the rough road out of Dogongari. The other children ran after the wagon until it was gone.