Life comes in patterns and parcels. Each pattern comes with a unique parcel of lessons; taking the jabs equals taking the bull by the horn in its true meaning. Through life lessons heroes are known, champions are made, the best-selling authors emerge with tales too good to be true; CEOs embark on a journey of becoming a world brand rather than hand in parcels of failed attempts. They create patterns of influence, and a force to reckon with. There is a thin line between success and failure, and even a thinner margin to greatness.

The true life lesson is not just from learning from mistakes, but from identifying the opportunities that come with each storm. Goals are set, budgets are made, but storms are not. Like a flash, they come tiring and shattering. But as in mining - where breaking of hard rocks are inevitable for the precious stones to emerge - these storms come with great lightening that cuts through the curtains of darkness. And there lies your opportunity to either see with the lightening or shield in hiding; giving room for the darkness which these storms were meant to defeat with its lightening, to loom you in with fear and no bearing on how to gather, nor pick your precious stones and rocks to rebuild a better and formidable empire.

The Kardashians are world famous stars who have lived and risen with a world-wide web of bashing. But all along, these angry feedbacks have nourished their growth and life lessons to build on. Their entry was made in an infamous format, which gave birth to the keeping up. Yet, an empire has been launched with lip injection publicity for a 20-year old to match to the billionaire list. They have no talent was their flaw, but it’s been a huge target to draw and keep the attention for good marketing business. Kylie has harnessed the lightening of her lip-bashing to lip-kit-smashing. Now, one cannot call her without thinking of a moving growth of wealth that is remarkable.

Yes, everybody has their unique patterns and parcels, and there is no need to compare, all-right. But being yourself does not mean being comfortable being a mediocre; rather, being yourself while finding your true self through making conscious effort at improving yourself.

Sometimes, we are too quick to announce our arrival that we end up missing our route. The unexpected patterns and parcels that life brings can be a tool for development. In fact, it might even be your essential mineral and vitamin for a glow, rather than let it deter your success. Let us not burn even before the heat comes; if it is for a good cost, the pain would be insignificant.

The breaking news could become the headlines. You become the legend when you accept the grail. The destination becomes the achieved goal, after the twists and turns of our life patterns and parcels. The grind is the process for prep and practice, not a death sentence.

We can achieve more in the mist of change. Change is good, it brings possibilities unimagined. It starts with a unique way of seeing positive signs at every cross roads of life. Beyonce has demonstrated this with great songs and music videos about making lemonades when served lemons; embracing the challenge stronger and made headlines, after the lip sync bashing.

The truth is: great people replace their great setback with a greater achievement, by making progress. Leaving no room for their spectators to dwell in their past. What we don’t realise is that we have won even before we fail, unless we don’t keep trying. Let’s be civil and courteous, but also look out through our storms and lightening. Let’s follow the light, till we become the light.

•Esther Chizaram Ngele is a law student, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. She can be reached via fab_esy@yahoo.com

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