Times Of Swaziland: RECYCLED AND REUSED AT HIGHER VALUE RECYCLED AND REUSED AT HIGHER VALUE ================================================================================ Editor on 15/06/2022 07:59:00 Sir, It is worth noting that most people are drenching sheepishly in a well of tears, with a soaring inability to believe in their potential. A reasonable portion is clouded by the bafflement of low self-esteem. Society, on the other hand, is playing a significant role in making utter assurance that self-distrust is a perpetuated act among people. I once glued my eyes on a short written piece that conspicuously paraded the ills of the society, put into action, to make sure that people are treated with contempt. Protection In it, there was an old-age ravaged sculptor, who was passing by the great mansion of a plantation owner. He, together with his employees, was felling one of the old trees that for generations had provided protection from the scorching sun. The old sculptor stopped and called over the wall with a note of interest; “what will you do with those discarded stumps of wood?” The owner replied; “these are good for nothing but firewood. I have no use of this junk.” The old sculptor begged for a piece of the ‘junk’ wood and with a smile of gratitude, he staggered into the distance with his burdensome treasure. Upon arrival at his cottage, in a seemingly mysterious and ceremonial manner, he walked around the useless junk of wood. Bondage As he picked up his hammer and chisel, a strange smile pierced his leathered face. Attacking the wood, he worked as though he was under the mandate to set something free from the gnarled and weathered junk. Eventually, the old sculptor freed the bird from the bondage of the junk wood and placed it on the railing of his front porch. Weeks later the plantation owner came to visit. When he saw the bird he offered to buy it, offering whatever price the sculptor might name. Satisfied that he had made an excellent bargain, the gentleman walked away. The old sculptor, sitting on the steps of his cottage, counted his spoil and thought, ‘junk is in the eyes of the beholder. Some look, some see’. Today we have many people whose lives are like an old tree. Trapped within them is a beautiful bird of potential that may never fly. Society, like the plantation owner, sees nothing in them but a useless and worthless person who is slowly on his way to the garbage heap of life. There is definitely a wonderful reward in believing in yourself; trusting that in spite of the thrash you are thrown in, you are most definitely going to be recycled and reused at a higher value. The thing is, and what I am trying to put across to people who may want to give up, never stop believing in your potential.