Earlier this year, My lifelong mentor, my father and my best friend suddenly passed away. It was easily the most challenging time of my life. I really cannot say exactly how I handled the first few months, but I knew one of these days I had to pick myself up and continue moving forward.
He had always said, "There's no excuse not to succeed" so there was no better time to put those lifelong lessons to test. I found the needed residual energy and resolve to succeed knowing that, "It ain't about how hard you hit, but how much you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done". Rocky VI
My father and I had discussed so many times about the Millennium Development Goals, Education and Africa, the human resolve and living a life of purpose, hard work, value and faith. If anything, I am happy to have had him for the time I did. Here's a letter I wrote after his passing and this is my new found fuel to achieving my goals and dreams.
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Dearest Father,
My greatest blessing is being your son and to have gotten to truly know you. From day one, or as you will say, from the word, Go! you have been my guiding light, my mentor, teacher, inspiration and my biggest fan. I have always appreciated every second we spent together.
Your belief in hard work, perseverance and a very strong faith in God propelled you to the highest ranks among your peers. You will always be the ultimate inspiration to the Akindele family. Your charisma, energy, intelligence, exuberance of confidence and no-nonsense attitude has always spurred me to aim for the best. You really did believe that through hard work and faith, anything is possible.
You once told me that, “Only unintelligent people never appreciate others when they are around. It is when they pass on that they wish they had appreciated them more”. Those words have stayed with me since that day. I have always told people that particular quote as a lesson from my father.
You have always been that constant guide, mentor, disciplinarian and inspiration since way before I could remember. Even as I miss your physical presence, I’m glad that I will never forget your voice in my head that keeps motivating me to achieve higher heights. As you will always say, "My boy, please do not relent".
You taught me not only through your never failing advice and words of wisdom, but through your actions and subsequent successes. Your cerebral approach to standing up to life and living it to the fullest is what I wish to pick up from this very tough junction. You are one of the very few who get to live life, right until the end. Never content with just existing or backing down for anything but pushing forward every time for 110%. I call that, “The Ultimate Stand up Guy”.
Your ever present influence will always be my firm inspiration to keep moving forward. From the constant quotes you kept hammering in my heart at times when I had minor challenges… Thank you Papa… It is my duty to keep your legacy alive and continue celebrating the great Akindele family name and the values you stood for.
You constantly reminded me that, “It’s never so important where we stand, but the direction in which we are moving”. You were consistently moving in the right direction and now I know you are in a better place. The fire you have kindled shall ever burn bright, its warmth undiminished, undying its light.
You will forever remain in my heart, a true gentleman of the highest class, a world class diplomat, a charismatic and fearless leader, an erudite scholar and linguistic juggernaut, World’s greatest table-tennis player and the World’s Best Dad…
Your Dear Boy,
Dele Akindele.
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Dedicated to Amb. Lawrence Olayiwola Akindele (Sept 1, 1954 - Feb 3, 2011)
