New Year Message to Patriotc Ethiopians

New Year Message to patriotic Ethiopians
A lways keep a diamond in your mind!

30 December, 2009 | by Leoul Mekonen

As the New Year of 2010 approaches, I am triggered to write
something to my beloved patriotic friends and comrades whose
love and devotion to Ethiopia is as strong as diamond. For many
reasons the year 2009 has immensely inspired many patriotic
Ethiopians to take uncompromising step in the struggle for territorial
integrity, freedom and Ethiopian unity. Though patriotic Ethiopians
have been in the battle for the last 19 years, even though we feel
our country has been taken by traitors and tribalists, still we live
with the undying spirit and courage to take back what has
been stolen from us. What has been stolen from us are our country,
our national and territorial integrity, our unity, our flag and above all
the spirit of Ethiopianness in our own soil. We have been humiliated
by Meles Zenawi and his tribalist politicians, soldiers and
supporters since 1991 to this very moment.

Even though our country and people have been constantly exposed
to the evil plans of the Woyane invaders, we are always armed with
courage and knowledge which the Woyanes, their supporters and
infiltrators among us hate to see in us. Courage, fearlessness, love
and devotion to our country and integrity are the things Woyanes
couldn’t destroy in the heart and minds of patriots. Since patriots
don’t sell themselves and their principle, the only strategy Woyanes
devised to weaken Ethiopians is by attracting non-patriotic
Ethiopians whose interest is only getting advantage like money, a
piece of land to build house and the freedom to do business without
obstacles. No matter what, patriots are unbreakable and
unalterable. Patriots prefer to die standing with their integrity than
living on their knees.

These days I felt deep inside the urge to write specially after I heard
the song “always keep a diamond in your mind” a song usually
played during Christmas. The song of Tom Waits has bear a strong
message which might enrich our soul and enable us to receive the
New Year with positive thoughts, plans, feelings and optimism.

Oh always keep a diamond in your mind
You gotta always keep a diamond in your mind
Wherever you may wander
Wherever you may roam
You gotta always keep a diamond in your mind.

When I heard the song, the first question that struck me was
“where and when a mind has become a jewellery box?” This song
made me ask deep questions about what it means to keep a
diamond in a mind and how we can turn our mind into a jewellery
box.

Looking for an answer for the question ‘what it means to keep a
diamond in a mind’, I ventured to think deeply about the qualities
and characteristics of a diamond. The name diamond is derived
from the Greek- adamas which means “Unbreakable”,
“unalterable”. Diamond is renowned as the hardest natural crystal in
the world. Beside, it has a great optical characteristics and high
ability to disperse light of different colours. The transparency,
luminous nature, hardness and the radiance of beauty has made a
diamond the most expensive and precious jewellery in our planet.

It is quite common to hear people say: “think positive”, to someone
who feels down and worried. I have experienced many times that
many people including me don’t take these words seriously, as
many of us don’t know what it really mean or don’t consider it as
useful since we have many problems in our lives. When one is faced
with many challenges and threatening situations, it is difficult to
understand the meaning of positive thinking.

In many ways the human mind is as clear as crystal, transparent and
radiant like a diamond. Many years ago I heard from one martial art
instructor that our mind is like a lake. Water in a lake reflects a
moon which is millions of miles away from the earth but if we drop
a little stone in the water the waves will disturb the reflection and
we can’t see the clear picture of the moon. As the wave from a little
stone damages the reflection, negative thoughts damage our self-
esteem and prevent us from being aware of our potentials,
opportunities and strength to face challenges and problems
effectively.

What many of us ignore is that, our thoughts and emotions, affect all
aspects of our life. As Mahatma Gandhi said “A man is but the
product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” Learning to
be mindful of our internal dialogue will help us recognize thought
patterns and how they may be affecting the way we handle
situations in our daily life. Thoughts like, “I could never do that”, “I
am not good enough”, “I have no influence” , “What if I fail?”,
“what if my compatriots betray me”, “what if my friends don’t like
my action and turn against me” can seriously impact the way we
behave. The stress associated with the negative internal dialogue, in
turn, affects every aspect of our life. Sometimes our inner negative
thoughts and feelings leave us with feelings of self doubt; sometimes
it will make us feel negative and critical of others.

When we dwell on negative thoughts it will separate us from our
best self as well as from others. In my opinion our best personal
selves come from a place of self love and acceptance. When we
can truly love and accept ourselves we can also see other patriots
around us as collaborators on our path of personal growth. The
way I see it, it is love for our country, people, culture and religion
which brings us closer and saw the seed of creativity in us. And it is
love that takes us to a place where we can grow, learn and share
the fruits of our labour with others.

Thinking and thoughts are powerful because human development is
a direct result of thinking and thoughts. A very good example to this
would be the invention of aeroplane which once was considered as
foolish idea and unrealistic. We learn from history that thinkers like
Leonardo Da Vinci had a vision of making flying machines in
1500s. At that age their idea was nothing more than wish and
fantasy.

Even today many of us say “If I were a bird, I would fly” as if we
couldn’t fly using heavy machinery that carry hundreds of people
and tons of goods. Thinkers like Leonardo thought the impossible
which was materialised 400 years later by other thinkers and
visionaries. The thoughts and ideas we conceive today will slowly
but surely bear fruit as long as we are consistent and determined to
materialize them. When we look how the western countries support
Meles Zenawi today and prolong the oppression and sufferance of
Ethiopians, we may think that it is impossible to get rid of him. But
getting rid of Meles and his tribalist regime is not as hard as making
aeroplanes, what we need first is a vision that assures us the
downfall of TPLF oppressive regime. We need a vision which
brings all patriotic Ethiopians together for a common goal. When
we think positive, most of the time we harvest positive results, the
impossible becomes possible and we move forward with new
thoughts and ideas. It is only then that we realize that “if I were a
bird, I would fly” thought is not merely fantasy but tangible reality.

In my opinion positive thinking and great vision are diamonds in a
mind, they are unbreakable, unalterable, they make us shine and
glitter, drive us to think and act and inspire us to make a difference
in our and others’ lives . When we are occupied by positive
thoughts and attitude we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive
images, and see in our mind’s what we really want to happen. This
brings brightness to the eyes, more energy, more determination and
perseverance. We walk tall and our voice becomes powerful like
the trumpets which destroyed the walls of Jericho. Our body
language also displays the way we feel inside.

When I summarise my experience in 2009, I wish to call 2009 the
year of empowerment and ‘can-do attitude’. I have never seen in
my life when the “yes I can, yes you can and yes we can” attitudes
were reflected among individuals, friends, politicians, journalists and
preachers. As bread and water nourish our body, great visions
nourish our mind and heart. What we conceive in our mind and
heart is what we are going to receive. We harvest what we produce
in our mind. If we foster an image of defeat and failure, then we are
going to live with defeated mentality. But if we develop an image of
victory, success and determination, nothing will be able to keep
those things away from us. Positive thinking, positive attitude,
enlarged vision and willpower are diamonds we need to keep in
mind. Then it is not only the diamond which shines but the jewellery
box that contains the diamond is as precious and glamorous as the
diamond it self.

Then, my friends before I say Merry Christmas and happy New
Year I would like to remind you to always keep a diamond in your
mind!

A person, people or nation without vision is like a boat on a dry
land.

I love you!

Leoul Mekonen
Leoul.mekonen@gmail.com