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Food for Living: Don’t Rush Life
By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Destiny Friends,
As insatiable beings, we have the tendency to rush at almost everything; food, queue, success and more. What we fail to understand however, is that rushing adds stress and anxiety to life, and this can affect one’s mental state, overtime. Against this backdrop, note that there’s a thin line of difference between destiny and fate. While destiny refers to events that will necessarily happen to a person or thing in the future or the development of events beyond a person’s control which can have an element of supernatural power, fate is a predetermined course of events or series of events/ activities that may occur if one fails to do the things appropriate.
In the journey of life, most times we are consumed about how fast the world is leaving us behind, and as such we tend to think we have to fast track our life, but the truth is there’s a difference between motion and movement. You can be in motion, but not moving. Alternatively, we can say, direction is better than speed.
As human beings, it is normal for us to feel pressured to get our needs and wants. Which vary of course. For example, you might be concerned about making money, starting a business, finding the right partner, having a child or driving to meet an appointment. The truth is everything takes time and regardless of how fast you go, you can’t rush life. An African says, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go with a team.
Rushing seems to have become our DNA, we are always in a haste to publish an article or even write a book. We rush to become an adult before learning to become a kid. We rush to have a relationship before learning about our partner. We rush to build a billion-dollar business before we start working on our startup. We rush to have sex before we learn what sex is all about. The list is literally endless.
It’s normal to feel the urge to impress yourself, your family, friends and shame your detractors, but the experience of life has humbled us to know that patience is a virtue we all need to crave for. When you rush life, you lose out of some of the beautiful things life has to offer. Succeeding in any field of life entails maturity and learning the ropes. You can’t wake up in the morning and decide to be the President of a country, professor, pilot or even a millionaire. Everything takes time. Even the Book of life states “There’s time for everything”.
In life, there are few things you can’t rush, and one of such is friendship. You can’t force someone to like you; you can only influence their thoughts about you. If you make the mistake of using money or material things to make someone to like you, you’re bound to regret later in life, especially when the resources are no longer available. True friendship takes time to grow.
As a job seeker, there’s a job waiting for you, as an entrepreneur or businessman, there’s an opportunity destined for you. What most people fail to understand is that, If you get what you’re not supposed to get , it might hinder your progress . Let’s take a case study of a man/woman who is not yet mature to marry and marries, when the trials of marriage comes, the challenges might lead the couples to divorce. Moral: Our life is a process. Our skill is a process. Our relationship is a process. Our craft is a process. Our business is a process. Our art is a process.
As you may know, slow and steady wins the race, it is normal to get intimidated while looking at the accomplishments of others, but the reality is that we are all different and blessed with different skills, talents and gifts. We are all unique beings.
Sometimes delay can be a blessing to you, you might be driving to meet a scheduled appointment, and along the way you encounter a terrific traffic, ordinarily you might be mad, but if you able to think out of the box, you might realize that if you arrive early, you might meet unfortunate incident you never planned for. The problem might differ, but the point remains that the traffic might prevent you from a bad situation.
The interesting thing about not rushing through life is that sometimes, we learn such valuable lessons along the way. Sometimes, we learn more about ourselves and discover that we want something different. When you stop rushing and slow down, you enjoy life more. Morla: Rushing allows you to live on the surface rather than going deep.
Steps to live a Productive Life is a Process
Life is a process.
Just like a newborn baby takes time to crawl, talk and walk, we must have the mindset of patience by working for the best and expecting the worst. According to Ralph Ransom once “life is a series of steps. Things are done gradually. Once in a while, there is a giant step, but most of the time we are taking a small, seemingly insignificant step on the stairway of life.” Sometimes we think there is a timeline attached to our life which contains. In reality, there is no timeline.
Learn to live in the present
You have to be intentional in whatever you do in life. For example, rather than thinking so much about the future or the past, appreciate the present, when you eat, fully appreciate your food; when you’re with someone, be with them fully. When you’re walking, appreciate your surroundings, no matter where you are.
Mastery:
Mastery is very critical in our developmental process. Self mastery is priceless. It helps to shape and define you for greater opportunities. Take a mango tree, for example. Initially, when planted as a seed, it is small, and it takes years for it to sprout. But what happens when it hasn’t started growing? It’s collecting the right nutrients while undergoing photosynthesis to grow. And when the result begins to show. you get a solid tree plant. And what happens when its roots grow solid in the ground? It produces fruits, and so it remains forever till it dies out. It’s a slow process, but it’s rewarding.
When you master your craft, you develop some level of expertise in the subject matter. For example, Steve Jobs died as an unfinished project both in his work and life. Micheal Jackson, one of the greatest musicians of all time, died as an unfinished project both in his work and life.
In conclusion, destiny can be delayed, but it can’t be denied, just do your best and leave the rest for God. At the end when your times, no one can stop your blessings. Whatever has your name on it can pass to another person.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The Federal government has declared Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28, 2026 as public holidays to mark the celebration of Eid ul Adha.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on behalf of the government.
The declaration was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.
It said the declaration affirms the Federal government’s profound respect for the faith and spiritual heritage of millions of Nigerian Muslims who join the global Islamic community in observing this sacred occasion.
“The minister conveys the warm felicitations of the Federal government to all Muslim faithful in Nigeria and throughout the Diaspora. Eid ul Adha is a festival of deep spiritual significance, grounded in the values of sacrifice, obedience to God, and compassion for one’s fellow man.
“The Federal government urges all Nigerians to use this period for prayer and sober reflection, asking for divine guidance upon the country as it continues its pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity for every citizen,” Ajani said.
“It is in the spirit of brotherhood, shared humanity, and national unity that the Federal government wishes all Muslims a peaceful, blessed, and joyous celebration,” the Permanent Secretary added.
Africa’s biggest corporate supporter of culture, Globacom, is commemorating the life and legacy of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, at this year’s Ojude Oba Festival, marking the 21st consecutive year of its sponsorship of the cultural event.
This year’s edition, themed “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona,” is taking place at the Festival Pavilion opposite the royal palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The celebration pays glowing tribute to the remarkable accomplishments of the late monarch, who transited on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after an illustrious reign spanning 65 years.
The departed monarch ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, and during his reign, the profile and prestige of the Ojude Oba Festival grew tremendously, making it one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural events.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Globacom posited that Oba Adetona’s unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Ijebu culture, traditions, and values was a major factor behind the company’s continued support for the festival.
According to the company, “This year’s celebration goes beyond our traditional role as sponsor over the past two decades. It is an opportunity to honour the exceptional legacy of the revered monarch, Oba Adetona, whose vision and commitment elevated Ojude Oba to its present status.”
Globacom recalled that the late Awujale played a pivotal role in transforming the festival into a unifying platform that brought together Ijebu sons and daughters from across the world, regardless of religious affiliation.
This inclusive vision and royal leadership, said Glo, inspired the company to begin sponsoring the festival 21 years ago. Over the years of Globacom’s sponsorship, Ojude Oba has evolved into a globally recognized cultural celebration, attracting thousands of visitors and dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its support for the festival as part of its broader objective of showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Everyone experiences life in different ways. There’s absolutely nobody on planet earth who hasn’t encountered situations or circumstances that shaped them or gave them different perceptions of life. No matter how we try, we can’t run away from problems. A friend once jokingly said, problems are like women; they are the “necessary evil” you can’t avoid, especially when they have an interest in you.
We all experience life in our families, relationships, academics, spiritual life, careers, health, and even personal life. But what makes the ultimate difference is how we’ll react to it.
Let me explain a little bit using a case study of family, health, career, academic, spiritual, and personal aspects.
Family
It’s instructive to note that what makes a family is secret, so imagine a case where the secret of a family is divulged. There’s bound to be problems that will arise. Another scenario is when a family experiences the death of a loved one. I think that’s one of the most painful experiences one can ever experience because losing a loved one is no joke. The death of a family member can shatter a family if not properly managed.
Imagine a case where the head of the family, say a father, passes to glory and his wife is not financially stable to manage the family. The children will experience challenges that will shape their future. The question we need to ask ourselves is, how do we manage death when it happens?
Health
Another scenario that can shape us is our health. Health is so important that without it, one will not be able to function properly. There have been life-threatening health cases that lead to the untimely death of a sick patient. The question we need to ask ourselves is: how do we respond to these health challenges when it comes to us?
Career
Do you know your career can serve as an encounter which can shape you? Yes, an encounter is like an experience which can make one not remain the same. Do you also know that your career can make or mar you? Yes, while one’s career can serve as an instrument to one’s success, it can also lead to the demise of someone, especially if it’s not a purposeful career befitting the person.
Academic
Some schools of thought say that examination is not the true test of knowledge. There have been situations where one’s academic background can metamorphose them in the right direction, especially when one is intentional and purposeful in their chosen academic pursuit, and there have been scenarios when someone ventured into academic pursuits that are not suitable for them.
I was once a victim of this ugly experience when I ventured into Taxation Law at New York Law School. Despite earning a scholarship in the program, I knew for a fact, assuming I got a job, it won’t be fulfilling because I will be a victim of defective success.
Spiritual
One of the most defining moments of one’s life can be seen in their spiritual life. It’s sad to see most people playing with their spiritual life. They fail to realize that spirituality controls the physical. When we talk of spirituality, there are two types. Those for God and those for gods. It’s always good for one to align to one side, but as a matter of advice, it’s always good for one to stay on the side of God.
There are many situations that would have ended one’s life, but due to one’s neglect of one’s spiritual life, the life can be cut short. Question: How do you respond to spiritual things when spiritual forces push you around?
Personal
Last but not least is our personal life. How we respond to life challenges in our academic, health, finance, relationship, career, or even spiritual life can determine how far we go in life. Remember, it’s instructive to note that it is our attitude and not aptitude that will determine our altitude to life.
The big question we need to ask ourselves now is: how do we respond to these challenging circumstances or issues? The answer is attitude. You’ll agree with me, you may not always be able to choose your circumstances, but you can choose to respond to them.
There was a touching story about a man who was unjustly and wrongfully convicted for murder, and he spent many years in prison awaiting trial, another fifteen years for final judgment to be delivered, and yet another ten years on death row. In all this travail, he managed to keep his sanity.
Finally, on the day he was to be executed, fresh evidence indicating his innocence prompted the governor to order his immediate release. At the prison gates he sad “ all a man can be taken from him, except the last form of the human freedoms, -the power to choose one’s attitude in all circumstances”.
Do you see, life is not really about what happens to us, but how we react. That’s what will make the difference.
In conclusion, regardless of how life challenges, circumstances, and situations push you around, just have a good attitude and outlook to life. Don’t allow it to weigh you down.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
