Don't give up

The following is an incident about an extremely powerful 'woman of substance' who has spent most of her life inciting people not to give up hope and succour.

This Black American woman was gifted with phenomenal beauty, a good speaking voice and a ready, dry wit which could produce witty repartees at the drop of a hat.

However, more valuable than these traits were her moral attributes, which include having compassion and a rare sensitivity for those who were discriminated against.

However, in this sterling woman's struggling years when she was trying to find a foothold in the challenging US entertainment industry, it so happened that despite her extraordinary aura and towering personality, she was told that she was not "television material" and that she would never make it in the competitive tough-as-nails world of television.

Yet, this woman decided to go by her gut feeling and did not quit nor give up. A good thing, for had she chosen to get discouraged by these disparaging remarks and had she thrown in the towel, we would have been bereft of one of the greatest motivators of modern times - Oprah Winfrey!

According to statistics, at one point in time, she was the highest-paid television personality, but perhaps what is more relevant is that in her confessional interview-driven shows, she goads people not to give up on their dreams, to fight injustice and malpractices and to lead truly ethical God-fearing lives of meaning and purpose.

She particularly endorses the cause of Black Americans and other discriminated-against persons. She sees both sides of every story and she champions the underdog.

Yes, not everyone is born great, but those who are refuse to take 'No' for an answer, but doggedly pursue their dreams with determination, tenacity and grit. They surmount hurdles, obstacles and difficulties which can daunt even the bravest of people and they keep going without quitting.

Former US President Abraham Lincoln faced a plethora of defeat and despair which included his having a nervous breakdown and having got defeated more than once in political elections. Yet, out of the rubble, he emerged a man of basic integrity and sterling calibre, a man who walked his talk and freed North America from the scourge of slavery while having penned one of the most eloquent speeches of all time, the 'Gettysburg Address'.

It is almost as if great people who refuse to quit are guided by the following advice: Use the brickbats thrown at you by critics as stepping stones for ultimate success! It is comparatively easier to lose heart, quit, and give up, but the sterling people of substance choose to give it all they have got, much like the heroes and heroines in Oprah Winfrey's shows. They are indeed out to prove their detractors wrong, and rise from the sullen ashes without losing hope and courage, like the dauntless, beautiful Phoenix!