Socrates: "An Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living".

The most beautiful thing about knowledge, apart from it being a decision making tool, is that it humbles us. I don't mean academic knowledge or that which we gain from our professional background. I'm talking about that instinct you adopt as you examine yourself, as your experiences are painted on that elusive idiosyncratic canvas. The type of self taught knowledge that makes you unique and goes a long way to define your individuality. This kind of knowledge teaches us to reflect. The more we reflect and examine our selves and our lives, the more we realize that we need to be humbled by all the knowledge / wisdom in the world. Believe me, no one has a monopoly of knowledge. 

Socrates said it best, "The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know". Of course, over the last 24 centuries, Socrates, the legacy, has somewhat become synonymous with knowledge. He proved the need to examine our lives by living his the same. He said, "All I know is that I know nothing". This may be the most humble statement that, I think anyone could ever make. That, I believe, extensively describes, his character and therefore boosted his quest for the ultimate truth.

Psychologist gave us the perfect analogy in the word: Tabula Rasa - meaning Blank Slate. It is up to us to figure out how exactly we can make our experiences shape our idiosyncrasies and ultimately define the person we are today. This is what Socrates advocated for when he said, "An unexamined life is not worth living". The earliest part of his life was spent following the instruction of his tutors, mentors, parents and other notable guardians in his life. However, he understood that at one point in time one has to begin to think for one's self. Question authority, not out of defiance, but out of the quest for truth and that ultimate self. Do not get comfortable with the status quo. Keep searching... My father often joked that, "Getting a BA degree means to Begin Again, an MA degree means there's 'More After', and a Ph.D. degree means we have to 'Push Harder Daily'."

I think it is most interesting to note that, Socrates lost his life just to prove this point. He had a choice between denouncing all his teachings (Doing your own thinking and questioning authority) and be exiled (or given life imprisonment) or he could stick to his guns and be sentenced to death by a jury of 500 of his fellow Athenians. He decided that if living meant all his teachings would be stigmatized then life itself is not worth living. Interesting! I find this ridiculously fascinating. The perfect example of a man preferring to die on his feet than live on his knees.

To have this much conviction that life is not worth living if you are living on someone else's terms, one must have a very solid grasp of  these quintessential questions: how to live, who am I, what am I? etc. We cannot afford to just exist, beckoning to the call of circumstances and situations beyond our control. The only answer to such a conundrum is to do a constant, daily self examination of my purpose in life and what I want to accomplish at the end of the day. Understanding that if I should die today, I would be happy knowing that I lived my life, I did not just exist on earth.

Reference:

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

WHY I SUCCEED

I SUCCEED BECAUSE I AM WILLING TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE NOT.

I WILL FIGHT AGAINST THE ODDS.

I WILL SACRIFICE.

I AM NOT SHACKLED BY FEAR, INSECURITY OR DOUBT.

I FEEL THOSE EMOTIONS – DRINK THEM IN – AND THEN SWALLOW THEM AWAY INTO THE BLACKNESS OF HELL.

I AM MOTIVATED BY ACCOMPLISHMENT, NOT PRIDE.

PRIDE CONSUMES THE WEAK – KILLS THEIR HEART FROM WITHIN.

IF I FALL – I WILL GET UP.

IF I AM BEATEN – I WILL RETURN.

I WILL NEVER STOP GETTING BETTER.

I WILL NEVER GIVE UP – EVER.

THAT IS WHY I SUCCEED.

Anonymous

Tribute to My Father

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.

_______________

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.

_________________
Dedicated to Amb. Lawrence Olayiwola Akindele (Sept 1, 1954 - Feb 3, 2011)

My First Blog

I've thought about starting a blog several times before but, only recently did I realize that my passion to write and share my ideas with the world can no longer be constrained. So many great men have passed away without documenting their thoughts, passions and expertise. My father, (Amb)Lawrence Akindele, was one of them. The greatest diplomat and linguist Africa has ever produced & I think its a pity that he never got around to publish many of his writings and book projects. 

We are living in a world where there's no excuse not to write, and as a result, cement our legacies in our own words. The act of writing forces you to utilize all phases of the creative process and come up with a tangible product. 

A few days ago I was reading, "Socrates: A life Examined" by Luis Navia, and I thought it was fascinating that Socrates died over 24 centuries ago and he never had any writing attributed to him, but we still refer to him to this day. It was his students who shared his teachings and knowledge with the world and today his name is synonymous to knowledge itself. I strongly believe that old literature never dies.

It is on this premise that I have  decided to start a blog titled, "My Manifesto". A blog dedicated to living life with the motivation, innovation and enthusiasm to succeed. I completely agree with this quote: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me".

I have chosen to examine my life and take you on a journey to the ultimate discover of self and I hope that you too will choose to do the same.