June 18, 2019

Start Where You Are

If you follow me on Instagram (@BerryDakara), then you likely saw this post last week. We had a guest preacher at our church whose message was on a little known character from the Bible - Shamgar. In Judges 3:31, he was mentioned for killing 600 men and helping to save Israel. The sermon was centered on using the resources available to you to just get started.

My caption on the Instagram post was:

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. (Sermon by Sterling Brown)

As much as motivational speakers like to say the sky is the limit, the truth is that there ARE limits in life. You don't know everything. You don't have everything. And you may not always be in the exact position that you want. These can be limiting. However, more often than not, all you need is to start with the resources you DO have. With time your resources will grow and expand. Before that time though, begin with what's in front of you and within your reach. 


I can't remember the name of the book but did you know a refugee in Australia wrote an entire book using ordinary WhatsApp? He wanted to share his experiences and the guards in his detention center would likely seize his writings on paper. He smuggled a phone in and wrote messages to a translator via WhatsApp and his book has gone on to win some of the highest literary awards in Australia! 


Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."


I was also reminded about my blogging beginnings. I started my first blog, The Aje-Butter's Guide to NYSC, in 2011 right after my three weeks in NYSC camp. I didn't have a camera, but I had a phone. Not a great phone even, but I made do with the photos that mingy phone camera could take! I started where I was, used what I had, and wrote what I could. Look at me now with over 1.5 million blog views! It doesn't matter if you start small - just keep on going and watch it grow :)

Have a beautiful week!

1 comment:

  1. This is so inspiring, Berry! What most people don't know is that God had blessed them with everything that they need to succeed in life. Sadly, people compare and measure themselves against other's standards, which makes them feel like they aren't enough or, like you said, limited. We are at the point of our lives for a good reason that we have yet to find out.

    This post made my day. Thank you so much for being my morning inspiration!

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