DESTINY DEMYSTIFIED.

A lot of myths are identified with the word “destiny” which often suggests that Man’s destiny is already settled at birth. But, I dare to disagree with the myths. Won’t the world be a cruel place to live if some people are destined to live in abject poverty while some are destined to be great? The answer is affirmative. Without gainsay, nature will be so unkind if people’s fates are sealed at birth. The Creator being so fair, He deposits in everyone all that we need to make exploits and thrive at birth. He also gives everyone a fair play ground, the liberty to choose our paths and the opportunity to take part in the molding of our destinies. By the Creator’s making, everyone is destined to be great but unfortunately, our choices, actions and reactions alter the Creator’s plan for our lives. We unconsciously choose our paths and later blame it on destiny.

So what is destiny? Is it definite and unchangeable? Or can it be altered or cheated?

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “destiny is what happens to somebody or what will happen to them in the future, especially things that they cannot change or avoid.” Contrary to the general view that our destinies are enforced on us, from my own viewpoint, the definition suggests that we are responsible for our destinies since it’s an undeniable universal law that our choices and actions inevitably attracts proportionate results. For instance, if you fail to prepare adequately for an examination, the probability that you will fail the examination is high. In this scenario, it can be said that you are doomed to fail the examination. However, if you prepare adequately for the examination, ceteris paribus, success cannot elude you. In this case, it can also be rightly said that you are meant to pass the examination.

Life is like a race where everybody is given the opportunity to start at the starting point at the zero hour. How the race is finished now depends on the racer’s strength, skills, discipline, choices, actions, work ethics, character, habits, amongst other things. Destiny is the dividend you earn from your investments in your yesteryears, yesterdays, today, and tomorrows.

Destiny is not definite and unchangeable; it can be altered or cheated. I know of a civil servant turned musician in Nigeria who had an accident in the course of his duty. The accident left him paralyzed and instead of begging for alms like most people do, he decided to turn his destiny around with the disability. First, he organized a fundraising for his initial treatment abroad where he launched his album (he recorded his ordeal as a song). He was in the showbiz before the incident and so he enjoyed much publicity for his album. That aroused people’s emotions, and they bought his album massively. He did not only make enough money through the sale of his album, several organizations also donated money for his treatment. Though he cannot still walk with his two legs unassisted as I write this, but he’s now riding a customized jeep that he drives himself even with his disability. Today, people pay him huge some of money just for him to sing at ceremonies. He is now an international musician as he has organized several shows successfully abroad. His name is Yinka Ayefele and I doff my hat for him.

When Yinka Ayefele was plagued with paralysis, he could have accepted it as his destiny to beg for alms. But instead he decided to use the disability to launch himself to limelight and affluence. He has turned his woe into success. He has not only emancipated himself from mediocrity, he has also succeeded in liberating his family from poverty. What will you call his destiny? To get paralysed only to be launched? Whichever way you think of it, I bet you’re wrong. Yinka Ayefele took charge of his destiny! He altered the plans of the adversary over his life. He beat circumstances to it. He carved out his destiny on the anvil of courage. He demystified destiny.

I don’t know your situation but if Yinka Ayefele can do it, so can you! You are not stuck with a bad destiny. You might not be able to control certain occurrences in your life, but you sure can control the way you react to them. You can turn around any situation you find yourself. You can work out your destiny. You can challenge the status quo. You can picture a future and feature in it.

Your fate is not sealed, there’s still remedy. Spend every passing minute judiciously. Before embarking on any action, think right, choose right, plan right, prepare right and act right so that you can attain a glorious destiny.

I can only admonish, it’s up to you to work out your destiny in life’s reality show. Walk the talk. Recreate your world. Finish strong!