The Urzua mindset

There's this Yoruba proverb that goes "Eefin niwa".
2 words but a great message packaged in it.

A raw translation to English goes thus - Character is like fumes.
Place fumes in a pot, it always finds its way out. Our character as it is, can only be concealed for a little while. It takes only a matter of time for it to surface.

You know that feeling when you meet someone with a great character, you just feel that rich smile they beam, there's warmness in every word and mannerism and you just love to be around such a person.

One issue that has caught international attention is that of the 33 trapped miners in Chile.
I heard of the rescue operations that commenced some hours ago in which 5 out of the 33 have been rescued.
One stunning fact was that they had been there for 17days at first before discovery, feeding on sips of water, bits of biscuit and tuna fish that they had.

33 men just for emphasis sake... underground for 10 weeks!

Now what exactly is the whole point of this? I mean you're probably not from Chile and you've heard the news too, so what's all the fuss about I hear you ask...Read on...

Now for your info, the food with them was supposed to last just 48 hours but...(I had to dedicate a paragraph for the next point..yes)

Now the food was only meant to last 33 of them for about 48hours, but with the exceptional leadership of 'one man', Luis Urzua (also trapped) who brought up the idea of managing their food supplies by taking 2 spoons of Tuna and half glass of milk - every 48 hours! which helped them endure another 17 days without outside contact. He is decided to be the last man to be rescued out of the mine.

He'll be the last out because the others need him...Chile needs him...he's got the strongest character!

I mean I can just imagine one of them freaking out with tears in his eyes and saying he can't make it again and Urzua goes, "Yes you can, they will find us, they will, just hang in there...Here, have a sip of my water".

He's trapped in the mine but his mind is free from being controlled by external forces of discouragement that surround him.

Now check out this excerpt from my source:

"Urzua's neighbors told the AP he probably insisted on being the last one up.
"He's a very good guy — he keeps everybody's spirits up and is so responsible — he's going to see this through to the end," said neighbor Angelica Vicencio, who has led a nightly vigil outside the Urzua home in Copiapo."

I don't even think I should write on Character cuz its far broader than that. I mean, after I read the analysis of the rescue operations it was far from believing how they managed to keep them calm or even rescue them. They faced risk of rocks falling to destroy the rescue capsule and close up rescue paths and a hundred of other contingencies.

Now that is a great mindset I must say, one that stays calm in face of adversity and puts up a resilient attitude against failure, optimistic and also infects people with his/her confidence.
Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years but still came out to lead a whole nation. He was in prison but his mind wasn't imprisoned.

You have imprisoned this your great mind for too long!
You will never understand what I mean if you're still 'trapped in the box'... dirty old traditions!

Our mind is a great tool, guard it with diligence. If this is still not making sense, then there's a big challenge here.

What I'm I trying to say?
Your true character only comes out in times of adversity...or how do you test the strength of a knife if it has never cut anything?
Events like that of the Chilean miners will happen and then the true 'you' will come out. Will you be the Urzua?
Bad stories spread faster than good ones I must add.

So what's the way forward I say? Talking to myself too:
Build a strong character and interact with people of great attitude(Iron sharpeneth Iron you know).
Watch your reaction to situations, people and what do you laugh at?
Question your integrity by watching how you react to money.
Don't be sentimental about making decisions that are beneficial to your well-being all in the name of 'what people will think'.
Don't be scared to start all over and rebuild. At least now you know, so work on it.

1st of the rescued miners hugging Chilean President

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
-Michael Jordan

Let them say...they always say and they will never stop. You just do what you do best.

Its all a process in developing the Urzua kind of mindset and watch how a whole nation will celebrate you just because you decided to not conform to 'the usual'.

Last man out: Luis Urzua waving his hand as the rescue ends!

Read more on the Chilean miners and don't forget to pray for them as the rescue continues.
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UPDATE: All 33 men have been rescued. God is definitely good! On the Left is the national hero, Luis Urzua having demonstrated true leadership in the depths of no hope, waving his hand as the whole world celebrates a true Leader.
 Boy o boy...such drama...lots of lessons.