Build the bridges

FILL IN THE GAPS

Sometimes, you look at the path ahead, you see the destination, but you can't see the breaks, you cannot see where you need to mend the bridges, and where you need to construct new ones. However, you embark on the journey, knowing you will surely arrive at your destination, but not sure how to.

Steve Jobs once said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards." It is until you have treaded that path, built the bridges, and reached your destination, that you will understand why you have to fill in the gaps. The dreams may be clear, vivid, and magnificent; everything around feels like the perfect situation, but the work has to be put in, the start button has to be pushed, and the race has to begin. You have the map, you know the starting point and the glorious end, but you also have to identify the gaps.

The gap between the idea and the product, between the dream and its reality; between where you are and where you want to be is where doubts, impatience, procrastination, and many other obstacles dwell. That is where your work really begins, that is where you have to stand strong and upright, that is where you have to fill in the gaps, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and fight for what you want.

The magic is never in the destination, it is in the process. The gap is where transformation takes place. Filling in the gaps is not a punishment, it is the process of becoming. The grandest cathedrals are built one brick at a time, be patient with yourself. Stop seeing the gaps as burdens, see them as your workshop, your training ground. This is where you earn the ending. This is where the thick skin is built, your strength is reinforced, and the resilience that will make your spirit unshakable established.

To a better you, Kamikun John.

Prepare your banquet

DON'T WAIT FOR THEIR CRUMBS

When you honour people, you give your time, you offer your whole heart and in return, you receive a crumb, a brief text, a scrap of their attention, a moment of their time, doled out like they are doing you a favour. You feel the pain, your heart aches. Yet, you treasure that crumb, you analyze it, you build gigantic castles in the sky around its meaning, you convince yourself, that, "this is enough" for now, "soon, there will be more." Unfortunately, there will never be more, there will only be more crumbs.

It is high time you stop waiting for their crumbs or you will continue to starve in a palace of your own making, built on a foundation of scarcity. You were not born to feast on the leftovers of someone else's attention. You are not a beggar at a king's table, you are the king, everything belongs to you, the grain, the fire, and all the recipes for your own fulfillment. You do not need the validation of a closed mind, you only need the nourishment of your own mind.

Every moment you spend waiting to be filled by the generosity of another, is a moment wasted in ignoring the banquet you have the capacity to lay for yourself. That energy you pour into decoding their silence, can be channelled towards something more beneficial to you. The hours you spend waiting for their attention, can be switched to the company of someone who cherish your presence.

You are worth more than half-hearted commitments, you are worth more than mere compliments, you are a star that need to shine. Do not settle for the bare minimum. Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you can hit the stars. Their crumbs does not take you anywhere, you don't need it. Set your own table, pull up a chair and enjoy the taste of your own freedom. Your feast is set and waiting for you, don't dare settle for less.

To a better you, Kamikun John.

Shield your valuables

ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR STRENGTH

As you go and grow along in life, you build career, relationships, reputation, and character. However, there is one asset that is the foundation for all others, and that is your strength. Not just the strength of your muscles, but the strength of your spirit. Your resilience, your resolve, your inner fire. This is the engine of your life, and to let it be compromised is to risk everything you have worked for.

Protecting your strength is not an act of selfishness, it is an act of wisdom, it is the understanding that you cannot pour from an empty cup, you cannot fight with a broken sword, and you cannot build a fortress on crumbling grounds. It means guarding your energy, learning to say no to the things that drain you, the pointless dramas, the toxic relationships, and the activities that leave you feeling hollow. It is curating your inner circle, fiercely and intentionally, surrounding yourself with people who fuel your light, not dim it.

There will be days when your strength feels tested. There will be setbacks that shake your foundation and disappointments that threaten to extinguish your flame. In these moments, protecting your strength is a quiet, deliberate act. It is the choice to rest instead of quit, it is the decision to be kind to yourself when you stumble, it is the faith to believe that a night of rest will lead to a morning of renewed strength.

Protect your strength, not because you are weak, but because you are the guardian of something powerful. Protect it, so that when the world needs your light, you can blaze. Protect it, so that when those you love need shelter, you can be their fortress. Protect it, so that when your own dreams call you to a higher peak, you have the wind in your lungs to make the climb. Always protect your strength, it is the unshakeable core of who you are, and the limitless potential of all you will become.

To a better you, Kamikun John.

Be kind on yourself

DON'T JUDGE YOURSELF UNFAIRLY

Sometimes, you stand in front of the mirror staring at yourself, and all you can see is the man who has failed, the man who has been beaten down, and battered by life. That may be what everyone else sees, but that is not who you really are. You might not be where you want to be, but you have not reached the end of the road. The fact that you haven't reached your dream destination yet, does not give you the permission to judge yourself unfairly.

Everything takes time, and the fact that you failed yesterday does not mean you will fail again today. People may criticise you, the society judge you, but you should not join them in bringing yourself down. You might want to compare your progress with that of your peers, you may want to use people's social media posts as a yardstick to measure how well you are doing, but the truth is, none of those people post their tunnel days, they do not make public their failures, and even their so called social media success may be curated.

Don't be the judge that subjects yourself to an unfair judgement. That you fell on the path to your dream does not mean you are a loser; the failure you encountered on a particular project does not pronounce you lazy; the fact that you were not considered for a position does not mean you are not worthy; don't be harsh on yourself, you just have to be honest, sincere, and patient with your progress.

Success does not come through perfection, it comes by being compassionate on yourself. Ditch the comparison game, your journey is yours; bloom where you are planted; embrace your mess; life is not a straight line, it is a doodle. You are a warrior, you have survived your worst days; you are unbreakable. Stop judging yourself unfairly. Let go of the whip, take up your wings, and soar. Be your own cheerleader, your fiercest ally.

To a better you, Kamikun John.

Find your center

BALANCE IS IMPORTANT

There is nothing beautiful in chasing the things that are neither giving us result nor peace. Whatever we do, we must always seek to balance things out, or lose out totally. We cannot focus solely on pursuing success by burning ourself out, and expect to enjoy the dividend of that success when it eventually comes. We would have been tired, weak, and probably not strong enough to enjoy what we have worked hard for.

We are taught to chase extremes, to hustle until we drop, to climb the mountain without a single glance at the view, to pour all of our energy into one thing, our career, our training, our passion, until we are empty, brittle, and burned out. However, the danger in that is, people hardly recover from burnout. You can call this dedication, strength, or determination, but the truth is, it is an unhealthy approach to life, and that is not what life is all about.

Imbalance, by its very nature is of no use, it cannot stand for long, and it benefits no one. True strength is not found in one sided endeavours, it is found in the center, it is found in balance. Balance is not a passive state of being okay, nor is it a lukewarm compromise, it is a dynamic, active, and powerful practice, it is a conscious choice to tend to all the gardens of your life.

The pursuit of balance is a declaration that you are building a life, not just a resume. It is an acknowledgment that you are a multi-faceted being, and to neglect any part of yourself is to live as a fraction of who you are meant to be. So, give yourself the permission to explore. Find that beautiful, necessary tension between effort and ease, between giving and receiving, between the climb and the view. For in that balance, you will not just find success. You will find strength, peace, and a life that is not just lived, but truly felt.

To a better you, Kamikun John.

Ignite your legend

ZEROS TO HEROES

People are not defined by their starting line, rather they are defined by the quality and strength of their journey. You are forged in the fire of your struggles. Many have come from the wrong side of the tracks, sleeping on the floor, struggling for daily meals, but eventually making it to the top of the ranks, just because they refuse to give up on their dreams. They wake up everyday in their hole, always looking up, and working towards reaching the sky.

Michael Jordan was rejected, humiliated, and made to believe he is no good. He was a zero in the eyes of the world, but some years down the line, the one that was rejected has won 6 NBA championships, 5 MVPs (Most Valuable Player), he became arguably the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in the history of the NBA. He didn't just rise, he soared, turning every no and every rejection into a fuel for his legendary dynasty.

J.K. Rowling was a single mom on welfare, typing Harry Potter on napkins in cafes, rejected by 12 publishers, broke, depressed, invisible, but dauntless, now a billionaire author whose wizarding world enchanted billions. From zero she has risen to become a hero, she said to the universe, you are not putting me down, you are not getting the better of me. She rufused to accept rejection as a verdict on her life, but a reason to keep pushing.

We all start at zero, no fame, no fortune, no followers, just dreams rattling in our empty pockets, failures stacking like bricks, and doubts screaming louder than our beliefs. These are not roadblocks, they are the story of your journey. Heroes are not born, they are built. You can rise beyond your imagination, you can become unstoppable, you can become the next big thing, you just have to believe in yourself, put in the effort, and keep moving forward. Rise, be the hero.

To a better you, Kamikun John.

Steadfastness brings victory

THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT

In a world obsessed with shortcuts, social media overnight successes, sudden bust into limelight, and quick results, real effort and hardwork is now being overlooked. Success has now become something that is manufactured overnight. However, we must remember that, the only thing that stays up, is that which grows up. Anything that jumps up will definitely fall back to the ground.

Moreso, it is not the strongest, wisest, or the most talented that always get the glory, but the one who has refused to let go of his dreams, desire, and purpose. It is not the one who bursts out of the blocks with raw talent, fully carved abs, or undeniable intelligence that crosses the finish line first; it is the one who is relentless, resilient, and determined that gets the crown.

King Solomon penned his thoughts in Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 11, he wrote, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." When you have the time to do that which is necessary, and you fail to make use of it, you will arrive at a point where you will no longer be able to do what you have to do.

If you are being considered the underdog, do not relent in your pursuit of excellence, keep putting in the effort, your victory is just around the corner. If you want to launch into space like a rocket, you have to gather the momentum to thrust yourself as far as you want to go. The crowd may cheer the frontrunners today, but tomorrow they will roar for you, the one who never quit. Keep running, you are a warrior. The swift have their moment, but the steadfast will never be forgotten.

To a better you, Kamikun John.