Harness Your Power: Carrying the Legacy Forward

I have experienced so many amazing experiences in the last three weeks that I am actually short of words.  I feel full, ready to give birth to new ideas and even a new chapter in my life.

Yet, while I was away, my beautiful and loving 86 year old grandmother passed away.  Her health condition had been growing worse so we knew that she would not be around much longer.  Just before going to Nigeria, I took my daughters with me and we visited her for an hour.  It was a time of joy.  Maggie and Skye each wanted to sing a solo.  Then, my grandmom even chimed in with some of her songs.

A day or so before my grandmother moved on she said to my aunt, "I am not ready to go.  I have too many things left to do."  My aunt comforted and assured her, "I will take care of what is left, Mom, you don't need to worry." 

We truly do carry on the work of generations that have gone before us.  My grandmother was full of love.  Her gift was cooking and baking.  She expressed this gift regularly during my high school and college years.  I'd receive rice krispie treats, brownies, cupcakes, pineapple upside down cakes and chocolate cakes.  I was quite popular on my basketball team because of these gifts!

She also had a way of making me laugh as she told her stories of growing up.  My grandmother was pure in heart, genuine in spirit and simply loving.

As I write this week, my desire is to carry on her legacy.  Her love lives inside me. It was a vital part of who I have become.  She passed this love and acceptance to my mom and then my mom passed it to me.  I see that it is now my calling to deliver the same love to my daughters.

A song she wrote was called Joy In the Morning.  I pray that each of us experience deep joy each morning as we start each new day.  May we feel God's enduring love in our lives and know that we are cared for and guided along life's path.

If I could, I'd bake you a cake in honor of my grandmom.  I guess instead I will tell you in her words, "I love you, honey, and I am proud of you."

This Sunday we celebrate her life.
Today, I celebrate yours and pray that you are creating a lasting legacy!

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/

Harness Your Power: Inspiring and Inspired

Where do I begin?  I have had the richest few days of experiences.  I landed in Nigeria on Thursday.  So much has happened since then.

On Saturday I got straight to work by speaking at two events in the morning for young leaders.  The audience was engaged and it was an honor to share some key ideas for Harnessing the Power of the Mind. 
I was honored to receive the first ever Legend in Leadership award by Now Leadership International (run by Daniel-Adeniyi Obafemi, a fantastic leader.)

We then proceeded to Little Saints of Orphanage.  Through donations, we were able to purchase a month's worth of rice and semovita to give to the founder of the orphanage.  She was delighted.  We also brought cake and cans of soda and had a party with boys and girls (little ones up to teens).  We ate cake, sang songs, danced and even distributed Silly Bands to all the kids.  The kids were beautiful.  The orphanage receives no state or government support.  It is run solely by private donations.  They take children who are abandoned and left on the street.  They work to find foster homes and adoptive families.  Or, they raise the children until they finish college.  Amazing work. 

The orphanage needs monetary support as well as donations of food (rice, semovita, powdered milk and school supplies).  Please let me know if you'd like to help!  They also need people who are willing to foster and adopt the children!

On Sunday was a very special occasion.  I was hosted by Timeless Magazine and Ayo Moses PR to a dinner for the Friends of Patricia Omoqui held in Lagos, Nigeria.  The evening was full of comedy, good music, tasty food and a few words from me on the importance of shifting our national mindset to make Nigeria the Great Nation she can be.  I felt loved, honored and quite humbled by the experience.  I was given an awared by Timeless Magazine for the positive, empowered writing I have been doing to encourage Nigerians to reach their potential and step forward as change agents to improve the country. 

Today was extra-ordinary!  I spent the morning and early afternoon with the Disabled Athletes of Lagos State.  I was with the para-basketball team.  These athletes are incredibly resilient and courageous.  They come from a culture in Nigeria where people with disabilities are seen as shameful and less than.  Yet, through their efforts on the court, they are showing their families and their community that they have talent.  I was able to let them know that they are valuable no matter how others percieve them.  These athletes need wheelchairs for playing basketball.  I am praying that donors will step forward and help fund these athletes so they can reach even greater levels of success on the court!

These athletes need wheel chairs (approximately 20 of them)!  Do you know anyone who is willing to donate or do you have connections with organizations who work with para-athletes?  Please contact me!

I love Nigeria.  I am glowing with love and hope.  There are tremendous challenges here.  Yet, the opportunity for developing potential, creating solutions and empowering people is incredibly vast!

I end with my motto as an agent of positive change:  I do what I can, with the resources I have, where I am right now. 

If we each do small things each day to help others, we can make a visible change in our world.  I pray you do so.  I pray God gives me the strength to continue to help others in any way I can. 

With my love for you,

Patricia Omoqui, The Thought Dr.
http://www.patriciaomoqui.com/