During one of my outings in Lagos recently, I stumbled on a conductor who calls himself Messi.
Okay, let me break it down so you get the gist.
I boarded this 'danfo' from Iyana Ipaja heading to Oshodi. On entering the bus, I noticed the hostility between the driver and the conductor.
The driver was busy shouting at the conductor about him coming to work late, and not calling out passengers on time(this happens a lot). The conductor wouldn't take the insults or scolding.
There is something you should know about the drivers and conductors in Lagos is that insults and curses are a way of life for them and there is no bad words they cannot use.
As the vehicle moved, the fight continued with words and the conductor too was reminding the driver that he is a footballer and that he will one day make it as a professional footballer.
The driver laughed and called him "Messi the conductor" in Yoruba language and the boy told him to bet it.
The driver simply laughed him off and called him a wretched dreamer.
I was enjoying myself
You see, I am a dreamer, have always been and will continually be. The scene between the driver and the conductor is one that reminds me that, we are mostly dished the sour meal when we should be handed the fresh one.
Dreaming is cool and sweet, in fact it helps you see the world in a better light and you wait just to maybe see that dream come through.
I was once "Messi, the conductor" and those days of dreaming wasn't pleasant as, I was a subject of mockery.
Do you know mockery happens to be the dreamer's meat? It is meat and wine.
By the time I got to my bus stop the driver has promised the conductor to make sure he never gets work with another driver after that day.
The Messi the conductor response made my day, "when you are not God".
Yes, no man has the right todecide how you will end up. They cannot determine the outcome of your journey and this is because they are not God. Demi-god's maybe, but not the God the gives lives.
As I alighted, I tapped the conductor and told him to take it easy so he has a great day and as he looked at me, I could genuinely see his pain and frustration and he thanked me and I smiled assuringly at him.
I related with the situation the Messi the conductor was in and wished him well so he proves the driver very wrong.
You cannot move beyond your dreams. Dreaming is what makes us pull out the stops for a better day.
Do not allow the talks of how badly placed you are stop you from moving in the direction of your goal.
You are greatness personified so live it like it is and believe nothing less.
Messi fans..... :)
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Inspiring write up sir @jemai. We have to keep dreaming, it is the meat actually that makes us grow. Thank you for these thoughts and Keep touching lives.
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Thanks. We must never stop dreaming, opposition is the meat we must eat to grow.
Stay awesome!
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This was motivating.
I too dream big and always try to work hard because I know that big dreams require big sacrifices.
Thanks for this piece.
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Never stop dreaming and make sure to stay motivated everytime.
Stay awesome!
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Thank you , your words are inspiring
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Thanks and stay awesome!
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Too many Messis out there, most times I wonder if there's a dream-killer out there or that if people give up too soon. I'd go with the latter as I'm optimistic ✌️
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I agree with your choice as well. We must be willing to never allow dream killers kill our dreams.
Stay awesome!
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@ejemai, thank you and ride on :)
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Uhmmm i think there is a third option. In my opinion i think both your dreams and capabilities have to be matched for those dreams to come to reality. The realization of ones gifts should be the starting point of ones dreams. If i am a gifted painter i might not be great with music but if i choose music production then i might not reach my peak in life.
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@pinklette, If you have a dream and passion for something, there is no telling how far you can go in achieving it. Some ideas look like pipedreams and later become a reality once the dreamer starts putting things in place for it to happen.
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One thing I have learnt so far in life is that, people will not care that much about you when they don't see you carrying something that serve as a threat to them.... Smile
When your dream appear to be bigger than what they think you can achieve, naturally they gather to make life difficult for you instead of them to support your dream.
It is now your duty to gather up every stone thrown at you to build a fence round your dream. Pile up the lemon thrown at you to make for yourself a juice. Never complain of been hit by either the stone or the lemon
Running from oppositions is the same as running from your dream, face the opposition and show them what become of a man who believe in the beauty of his dream.
Thank you for the insight sir.
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We have no need to run from opposition because they will always oppose our position at the top. Keep grinding and the win is sure.
Stay awesome!
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Smiles...
Lagos is filled with scenes that reminds us about our reality, the truth is everyone is busy living
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Lagos is a state of mind and has become that of so many of us.
Stay awesome!
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Dreaming is useful only when we didn't mind the haters and when we focus on it and chase it
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Dream away and pay no heed to the haters.
Stay awesome!
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That driver has given up on his own dream, he has made up his mind to remain a danfo driver and now he wants to talk someone out of his. There are a lot of people like that, because they amounted to nothing, they become bitter and resentful and try so had to discourage other.
Like you sir, I feel blessed.
I am so happy I read this because Messi the conductor is a representation of many of us. People we tell our dreams and aspirations to look at us like, we are mad, like the dreams we have are too big for us.
What a way to start my day.
Beautiful post.
No dream is too BIG.
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That there, is the whole essence of what life should be about. We are all dreamers and no matter how harsh the winds, it will never be strong enough to take us off the ground.
Stay awesome!
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Thank you
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Really interesting story, sometimes we try to make gods out of ourselves without knowing that everyone has a future which is built on dreams, no dream; no dream come through!
Abusive words doesn’t profit anyone!
Thanks for your words of consolation to ‘Messi the conductor’ for its always good to lift people’s spirits with positive words.
I’m still the person that you know @maxdevalue.
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You are right, we must dream to bring dream to fruition.
Stay awesome!
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What a nice motivation for the day, no man has the right to decide how I'd end up.
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You are who you are and must decide your win.
Stay awesome!
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@ejemai great story, one I could actually relate-- the scene between the driver and "Messi...the conductor" is what we often experience here, in Lagos.
Truly, our dreams our what make us live for the future with hope and faith.
Thanks for sharing thoughtful insight.
Kind regards.
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Dreams helps us propel our hopes and fastens our faith. We must keep being happy with our ventures.
Stay awesome!
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Great post @ejemai ! Its true, when you have a dream, that makes the paths you take towards it more pleasant!
By the way, I just made a comment on the latest post that @ned made 3 hours ago, regarding the SP Delegations needed for the steem-ambassador.
Below is my post about my idea about the comment to show @ned and @steemit inc and the community how connected and supportive is the #promo-steem project.
Would you please help upvote the comment I made to @ned so he sees the power of #promo-steem ?
Here is the post with the idea:
Idea for Steem Ambassadors - Help Upvote the Comment I made to @ned regarding the SP Delegations for the Steem Ambassador
Here is the comment link I made on his post: Click here
Regards, @gold84
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What a great portrayal of the story. I could totally visualize it on the bus.
And a great message!
Resteemed and upvoted.
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I am a dreamer, and i do not think anyone who is like me would ever give it up. I was dreaming of where i am couple of years ago and right now i have plenty dreams. Sometimes i practically day dream and the materialization of those dreams is the greatest feeling in the whole world. Be positive, live everyday fruitful, work hard and pray hard, you will surely get there. Good talk man.
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that's cool :)
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No doubt about this. We are all allowed to dream and if the dream doesn't make people give us an unusual look and doubts, then the dream is not big enough. It is our dream, not theirs, so they can never understand.
Just because the driver has bread, he thinks he has arrived. He shouldn't forget that someone owns a bakery and there is a God who also owns the person who owns a bakery.
I love the way you restored hope to him to keep dreaming. Maybe you were there for a time as that. Messi the conductor could have given up after that day. Thank you for being kind.
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Thank you for this 👆.
We should never forget that there is always a source for the one who thinks he has it all.
Stay awesome!
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i love the way you captured the summary sir. Perfect. Thanks a lot sir. I always enjoy your posts. So much depth.
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