Before you grasp the full meaning of the title; here’s a short colorful prose by Bugi Ebuzoeme. It is the highlight of this article. Read on.
Fireworks: By Bugi Ebuzoeme
As I look out my windows into the dark, endless and empty sky; my most relaxed moments are stirred up.
Moments when I was liberated from the shackles of having to stay one place and practice the same routine for six months. Moments when I didn’t have to control my inexhaustible energy. These are moments that I don’t have to act or seem to be the serious person the society wants to see.
I am wearing a facade instead of becoming my own true self. A self-imposed jail I created in order to be called, ‘mature.’
As these fleeting thoughts sped across my mind; I looked up to see a straight spark of light spiral into the sky. This light explodes into beautiful colors lighting up the once dark and gloomy sky. It spreads its colored wings in all directions, bring about so many beautiful colors. I marveled at this beautiful sight and a voice whispered in my head:
“That firework is just like your cousin Ebuka. Eliciting and lighting up everywhere he goes and stays. He lives and let life be. He spreads his colorful wings and soars.”
This writer wrote the piece to her elder cousin to tell him how special he is. Yet, a deeper wider look at this piece shows how we can affect and spread joy to those around us.
Personally, Ebuka is a close friend (I call him Gabriel). But the truth is.. You and I are Ebuka. We both have people who look up to us for advice and support. There is a certain responsibility on your shoulders.
If you are striving for greatness, then there are destinies tied to you. Generational impact might feel like a burden to you right now. But it is the plain truth.
Make sure you light the path of greatness for the people coming after you. Show them success and excellence is possible. Make sure your juniors proud of your strides and achievements.
Let your life be fireworks, shining before others. Be Ebuka.
As we anticipated the sequel to the blockbuster movie, we got the shocking news of the death of Chadwick Boseman. He died of colon cancer on August 28, 2020. His family pronounced that Chadwick battled this disease for four years till his death.
Despite dying at an early age, Chadwick Boseman truly lived a life of grace and black excellence. He constantly poured out his heart, soul and life into the characters he played. These movies include Marshall, 42, 21 Bridges, Get On Up and many more. Greatly loved and admired by all, the final tweet on his account just became the most liked post in Twitter history.
Chadwick Boseman
As we continue to celebrate this king and legend, here are 5 things you can learn from his life too:
1. Live with a sense of purpose
Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed.
To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years.
Unknown to the public eye, Chadwick visited and encouraged kids with cancer while facing his own battle with same cancer. In his movies, he also had this grace, presence, beauty and elegance when playing a character.
This is a constant reminder for you to be a hero too. Live each day with kindness and purpose. Be intentional. Live a life full of positivity and laughter.
Mr Boseman levelled the playing field while fighting for his life… That’s heroism. I’ll remember the good times, the laughter, and the way he changed the game…
Chadwick was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, per reports. During that time, he gave us Civil War, Marshall, Black Panther, Infinity War, Endgame, 21 Bridges and Da 5 Bloods. Lord only knows what he was going through on a daily basis.
Chadwick gives an exemplary example of balancing personal life and work. He never allowed his inner battles to affect his work ethic or creative approach to acting. Chadwick’s family said he had filmed many of his recent movies while undergoing “countless surgeries”. He thoroughly played his movie roles to the very end.
This act is a reminder to do and say only what matters most. Not everyone needs to hear about your troubles or struggles. Never let your darkness or inner demons prevent you from becoming the light you are. Always shine and showcase your talents till the very end.
What a gentle gifted SOUL. Showing us all that Greatness in between surgeries and chemo. The courage, the strength, the Power it takes to do that. This is what Dignity looks like.
Chadwick had the chance to act life-changing roles because he had people to support him during his last years on Earth. His family. The group of close friends. His fellow co-actors. They were always there to appreciate his work and give him the chance to laugh till the end.
This is a reminder to choose your friends carefully. Have a select few who can guard your secrets and still build a healthy relationship with you. Maintain friendships that empower you on a positive level.
Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I’m endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King.
This is clearly evident from the eulogies received on the internet and by his family. Chadwick Boseman gave his all while living a life of grace, elegance and heroism.
This is a reminder for you to live to the fullest too. Constantly develop your talents. Share your story in whatever you can. Most importantly, don’t die empty.
Yes this was our king. Not because we served him or because he ruled. But because of how he served us in everything he did. He played a hero on screen and lived like one in real life. He made so many of us proud of who we are. Hamba kahle Chadwick…Sizoku bona phambili.
“I noticed then that Chad was an anomaly,” Coogler wrote. “He was calm. Assured. Constantly studying. But also kind, comforting, had the warmest laugh in the world, and eyes that see much beyond his years, but could still sparkle like a child seeing something for the first time.”
Chadwick Boseman once said he prayed for the role of BLACK panther before he got it. He always looked different. Sounded different. I guess this can be linked to his Christian faith. Because Chadwick has also given a speech at a Christian gathering. This is also supported by his pastor who says Chadwick Boseman sustained his faith till the very end.
This is a constant reminder to always communicate with God in whatever you do. Sustain and stay strong in your faith with Him. Always remember Him in your youth. Let Him guide and lead you all the days of your life.
Yeah. So those are the five tips on living a black excellent life like Chadwick Boseman.
Rest in Power, King.
Chadwick was such an elegant man with great integrity and tremendous talent. He inspired an entire generation to stand up and be king. Honor him by emulating him-show kindness and love to others. Share your talents in ways that impact. Always strive to be a light in the darkness.
Does creativity work best with rules? Creativity is always seen as an unstoppable force unhinged by principles. Yet, most creatives acknowledge they only produce astonishing works through discipline and a set of guidelines. And I am here to share some of these guidelines.
In this article, I am sharing seven rules you can apply in your creative thinking. By the end of this post, you will learn these techniques of creativity often applied by other people. These rules are extremely important for a modern and ambitious millennial like you.
You have probably heard of the philosophy to create as freely and wildly as you can. In most cases, this is counterintuitive. Some creatives fall into an abyss of mediocrity after dabbling into negative creativity. This negative innovation includes creating information that harms others or influence users into negative habits.
Using these products eventually affect the creator. Be careful what you create. Creativity must always come from a source of positivity and the drive to help others.
2. TRUST IN YOUR WORK
Be a firm believer in what you do and create. You are your biggest fan. People will only trust you if they see the passion and drive you put in your creative process.
Trust that your work is good for someone out there to see. Learn to trust in the process. Constantly hone your craft with a strong belief in yourself and your talents.
3. ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
Creativity comes from a source of tranquillity and serenity. A disorganized mind leaves no room for genuine creativity. When your thoughts are messy and cluttered, you tend to create mediocre stuff. Search yourself; the facts don’t lie.
Learn to organize your thoughts. Get a notebook or dedicated app to start jotting down your thoughts. Your thoughts often range from ideas, strategies, conversations to ramblings. Learn to segment them using journals.
Don’t just be curious. Be curious like a child. Begin every day with the urge to learn something new. View each interaction as an opportunity to get inspired. Be happy no matter the circumstances. This kind of lifestyle will positively increase your creativity.
Curiosity keeps you focused on trends and new improvements in your chosen craft and purpose. Curiosity allows you stay on the path where passion falters.
5. STAY BORED
Boredom is first allowed before creativity comes in. We often create to break out of a rut or to experience something new. This invariably means boredom always precedes creativity. Learn to acknowledge that boredom is necessary for originality and innovation to exist.
Remember to stay bored once in a while. Then use this phase to experience a fresh bout of creativity in your craft.
6. SHARE YOUR WORK
Sharing your work is an integral part when applying these golden rules of creativity. After building trust in yourself and your talents; showcase your work shamelessly. If you are a bit shy, start small by showing your work to a close group of friends and family. This is how I started too.
Learn to appreciate the good feedback. Pick out points to improve from negative and constructive feedback too. You can only do this when you share your work.
7. BELIEVE IN SOMETHING BIGGER
This is the last golden rule of creativity but it is arguably the most important. Constantly remind yourself that you are part of something bigger. Your talents, abilities and work impact more lives than you can imagine. You are a vessel, not the source. Learn to view your creative style from a source of endless inspiration and innovation. This is the only way to keep creating excellent work.
Most importantly, believe in the Creator, have faith and have a sense of purpose.
