12 lessons I learnt in 12 months – 2016

By Patson Dzamara

*1.* Strife, pettiness, gullibility and confusion are products of oppression. Oppressed people are prone to misdirect their frustrations thereby creating confusion.

*2.* It’s not easy to free happy slaves. It’s very easy to become enslaved while trying to free happy slaves. The children of Israel even wanted to kill Moses for liberating them.*3.* No matter what you do or don’t do, pleasing everyone is impossible. Just run your race.*4.* It’s very easy to lose one’s self by merely embarking on a quest to find someone or something. The only thing you have is yourself, never lose yourself for anyone or anything.

*5.* Sharing the same bed with someone doesn’t culminate in sharing the same dream. You may be in the same train but your destinations are not the same. Know the people around you and their agendas.

*6.* Real value is not in what you get but in who you become. Anything you get is temporal and it exits your life at some point but whenever you become something, it can never be taken away from you and getting is easier. Invest in becoming.

*7.* Nothing beats the truth. The gateway to a peaceful life is being truthful even when lying is convenient. The truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, always sets people free.

*8.* You must never wait for an invitation. It’s very easy for people to forget or disqualify you. Gatecrash the party of life and do what you have to do. Life is for living, live yours.

*9.* For as long as you still have something to give, giving up is not an option. Endure the process and always stay your mind on finishing what you start.

*10.* We travel far and wide looking for happiness but in most cases it is right where we are. True happiness is found in those simple things which do not cost a cent, such as family, relationships with others and most importantly a healthy relationship with God.

*11.* Whenever you get an opportunity to do something, do it as though it’s the last time. Hit with a big stick and leave a mark. They may not like you, but no-one can argue with results. Just produce results, they are stubborn.

*12.* God’s grace is always available wherever he leads you. When you allow God to order your steps, his grace shall be your constant companion.

2016 has been a great year. I thank God for the lessons. Let’s do it again in 2017.

*(Dr. Patson Dzamara is a leadership coach, author and pro-democracy activist  based in Zimbabwe)*