I AM ALI

“I AM ALI!” a rabbi led mourners in this chorus during the funeral ceremony of the late Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr as the overwhelming crowd gathered to pay their last respects to an American Olympic and professional boxer and activist; a significant and celebrated sports figure of the 20th century. I have never met the man neither am I an avid fan of boxing but the little I knew about this man from video excerpts of his boxing matches and interviews, portrayed him undoubtedly as one of the few great men that ever walked the earth. Ali was known to be inspiring, fearless, an optimist, a humanitarian, a poet, , a motivator, the man who brought boxing to the front pages, controversial and polarizing figure both inside and outside the ring among other attributes.

As I also pay my last respect to this great man, I will want bring to bear an exceptional quality of Mohammed Ali that had never been attributed to him; his looks. Mohammed Ali was a very handsome looking man and the ladies would attest to the fact. He was a fine gentleman but was never described as such. Was that to mean his beauty was not striking or evident enough? 

Obviously not, anyone could spot a handsome man miles away. The reason is simple; his potentials outweighed his physical beauty by a relatively big margin. This made his varied qualities noticeable as against his outward appearance. He had the looks but possessed better qualities inside of him that he exhibited with much skill and perfection.

What is there to learn from the world viewing Ali as a potential but never as a handsome man?

Well, many of us who per some self acclaimed standards which are still subject to scrutiny, are regarded as beautiful or handsome and feel that is all there is to life. So we neglect our potentials to concentrate only on how to keep up our appearances(look good). We will go the extra mile to purchase expensive products to enhance our short-lived beauty but invest nothing in discovering our varied potentials. 

In recent times, ladies suffer a lot more violence in relationships simply because the only finesse they possess is to look and appear beautiful so much so that they couldn’t even tell night from day. Simply put, if we were to look beyond their outward appearances, they added up to nothing and are virtually of no use to even themselves. Beauty is subjective but I can assure you that the beauty people see in you as you go about exhibiting your potential and talent never ever fades off the eye of admirers. In the case of physical beauty, I give you till you are a little over thirty and you’ll be amazed at the amount of time you spent nurturing nothing.

Like Ali, let us strive to be celebrated not for what our physical body presents but with the potential that exists in us. I believe you’ll want to be accorded with the quantum of respect accorded Ali on his funeral day. Yes, we all do but it was born out of the investments he put in growing every skill he possessed and not his physical appearance. This is not far-fetched; it only takes a change of mind and heart

“It’s not what you take when you leave the world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go”, a singer's words. You will definitely not take your pretty body past your grave but exhibiting and growing your talent to its fullest capacity will be your legacy that will remain with humanity after you are long gone. How often we mention the names of the greatest playwright, Shakespeare and renowned scientist, Isaac Newton as though we knew them personally or are still in existence?They obviously did not achieve this form of immortality by mere nurturing of their looks.

Let us look past the physical appearances and pretty faces to build our potentials and that will remain our legacy forever.
Finally, say the words “I AM ALI!” with much confidence, replacing your name where it indicates "ALI" to stir up your quest in seeking that inner beauty and potential you have hidden in you. 

“I AM ATSU!” and this is my humble tribute to the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)