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In the game of Life – Who wins?

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“Life is interesting, we wake up in the morning and wear ourselves out all day, to sleep. Life is funny, we come in with nothing and spend our lives acquiring to leave with nothing. Life is comical, the richest are not the healthiest, and the poorest are not the sadest”- Adeolu Akinyemi

Have you ever stopped in the middle of a working day to observe your environment? Have you ever looked down from a vantage point at the little people way down the streets? I have, and it baffles me that everybody seems to be on a race. Everybody has a goal, a deadline, a busy schedule, something to look forward to, something that is about to happen. People are in a hurry, fast paced, frantic and at alert. I wonder where people are in a hurry to get to, I also wonder, what winning means to these people (myself inclusive), I wonder silently, and now loudly, who wins?

I heard many years back, that the person who wins is the person with the most toys. You have a house (choicely located), 3 cars ( A Jeep, a regular and a spot car), you have a doll (now I don’t mean to be chauvenistic), a couple of flat screen, mini studio, flashy phones… you’ve got all the “to be desired” toys. But lets look deeply at it, does having the most toys make you win? First we’ll need to ask ourselves at what point to count the toys, is it at a particular age? Or is it at the point of death? At any particular age, the toys depreciate on a daily basis, at the point of death, the toys don’t matter. They’ll be given to someone else! No matter how much we pile up, we’ll leave here with nather.

Hmmm… if the person with the most toys doesn’t win, who does? Life seems to be all about what we do between when we wake and when we sleep, and we do it so agressively, it better have good results. So who wins, is it the person with the most titles? You look around and see people working hard to gain titles. Bsc, Msc, Phd, Prof, Ofr, Mon, Chief, Pastor, Managing Director, CEO, name it! But tell me, doesn’t an extra title create an emptiness as soon as it is acquired and is replaced by a craving for more? Lining up degrees like a thermometer doesn’t make you win in the game of life.

So what makes you win? What gives you true and lasting satisfaction? It’s not the toys, no the degrees or titles. What gives true and lasting satisfaction are the things we appreciate when we pause and take in our environment. The best things in life are truely free. The gift of loving and being loved. Of laughing heartily in the midst of friends, of sharing a story with tears in your eyes, of crying on the shoulders of a friend, of telling your pains to a mentor who has been there, of working with passion, staying late hours for the kicks, of living life to the fullest and dying empty! The great wonders of the world are not the pyramids of Egypt, not the monuments built by human hands nor the ancient structures that never move.

The great wonders are:

Sight – seeing an old friend again, watching your friend get the honour he/she deserves, seeing your grand children, seeing the things you wished you could do for your parents done for them, seeing your child learn to walk, talk, run, play and grow, seeing the future in your mind, seeing the past and laughing with glee… sight.

Touch – holding hands with the one you love, collecting a biro amidst sparks, a gentle pat on the back, a questioning pull of the chin, hands forgetfully placed on anothers thighs… touch.

Sound – hearing the music but not the words, hearing the words and creating the music, gentle words, loving words, pleasant sounds, inspiring words,hearing the baseline and replaying the moments, lyrics and poems, loving confessions from a friend, public vote of confidence, open declaration of love and affection… sound.

Smell – Hmmm… and that says it all.

Feeling – feelings that make 1 min like one hour, and then one hour like one minute. love, anticipation, anxious, curious, excited, enthusiastic… feelings that linger after the fact… fellings.

Who wins, is who maximizes the the opportunities in the midst of the inevitable, who lives today with tomorrow in mind, whose temporary does not destroy forever.

So between waking up and going back to sleep, are you spending your life on the things that will make you truely win?

Adeolu Akinyemi

Adeolu Akinyemi

16 thoughts on “In the game of Life – Who wins?”

  1. Tope Akinyemi
    January 24, 2007 at 11:14 am

    This is indeed a timely write up; it’s important to pause and think about these things cos there’s a tendency to, in the process of pursuing one’s goals especially at the start of a new year, to lose sight of the things that matter.

    Thanks dear, keep up the good work!

    Reply
  2. Kunle Ogunbayo
    January 24, 2007 at 1:53 pm

    Hmmm… Timeless piece! sometimes i wonder! life is a puzzle. what really gives lasting satisfaction? the trill of a new purchase or acquire soon disappears like vapour.
    this is a call to all, especially our generation to pursue things that truely matter!!!

    you’ve spoken well oree! cheers

    Reply
  3. Bolaji
    January 24, 2007 at 4:01 pm

    True

    Reply
  4. emmanuel A
    January 25, 2007 at 8:04 am

    This is realy a food for thought.
    life is not all about what we made for ourselves but what we make happen for others.the article is indeed timely-at the open of a new year and new resolutions.thanks Deolu

    Reply
  5. niyi ajayi
    January 25, 2007 at 10:04 am

    I read a piece sometimes ago.Dr abc(1900-19?).The first figure represents the entry point to the world.The last figure represents the exit.The hyphen in between depicts what we live in the world to accomlish and will be remember for.Surely not for the no of toys or titles acquired but on the values and enduring legacies we live for.May God grant us WISDOM!

    Reply
  6. Angela
    January 25, 2007 at 10:04 am

    … Someone dear once asked me … What would you, even if you were not paid to do it?
    my answer… To be a blessing…(let us de-spiritualise that) to be able to help others achieve their goals, to be a support, an encouragement.…(not just financial) but to give of myself, time and energy…..I have come to see how easy it is to take that for granted…but that is the only thing that adds value to life.. To be of service to others.

    … so nice one Deolu.

    Reply
  7. 'NIYI AJAYI
    January 26, 2007 at 8:21 am

    The greatest teacher said it all,”WATCH OUT….a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possession”.The summary is this:Life is built on…Purpose found…challnges met…opportunities sized….AND THE WILL OF GOD ACCOMPLISHED.
    In the end all that matters is how we filed in the blank between eternity past and eternity future.

    Reply
  8. Angela
    January 26, 2007 at 11:02 am

    Hear! Hear!! @ Niyi Ajayi

    Nuff said.

    Reply
  9. JOHN FEMI ABE
    February 1, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    Hmnnnnnnnnnn
    Life is a gift; really so make the best by taking time to think and help others

    Best dearie!

    Reply
  10. Gbubemi
    February 4, 2007 at 2:57 pm

    Life is far more than all the “toys” we can amass, and after we have gathered all there is to collect, what’s left? Me thinks the true winner in the game of life is the one who thanks God everyday for the opportunity to be a blessing, then goes right out to make an impact no matter how small outside. The true joy of life is in the “giving”.

    Reply
  11. todi
    February 14, 2007 at 12:14 pm

    precisely the thot for valentine…and the days and years that follow

    cool.

    Reply
  12. todi
    February 14, 2007 at 12:19 pm

    u mind if i publish it in a mag?

    Reply
  13. asade abiodun
    March 8, 2007 at 12:58 pm

    Its great reading this blog.

    Reply
  14. Kamal
    March 16, 2007 at 4:53 pm

    I beheld all the wonders and I thank God for the privilege of all. I think I love this part well also.

    “Touch – holding hands with the one you love, collecting a biro amidst sparks, a gentle pat on the back, a questioning pull of the chin, hands forgetfully placed on anothers thighs… touch.”
    Good one!

    Reply
  15. Freelance
    March 23, 2007 at 1:19 pm

    Life is very funny and i must say that there would be more questions than answers.
    May God grant us the grace to live a purpose driven life.
    Godspeed!!!

    Reply
  16. OMOZELE
    May 13, 2009 at 11:52 am

    i have never enjoyed this site the way i am enjoying it now. all the articles i have been reading have all been very beautiful. please permit me to use that quantifier. who trully wins in the race of life is the man that makes the most of the opportunity he has. simple as that.

    Reply

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Many hold their audience spell bound with motivational speeches but few care to hold the audience by the hand and help them walk their way to financial freedom like he does. Many have failed at everything they have tried to do but everything he does turns to gold. Read more…

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