I like a lot of light summer reading material. Normally I would be reading historical novels and mysteries and sometimes whimsical books by Stewart Mclean of the Vinyl Café. But on the Via Rail ride to Ottawa at the end of May, my wife gave me this rather heavy-600 page + autobiography of one of my favourite heroes of modern-day history. He exemplifies courage, determination, a passion for learning and a commitment to his country. He is Nelson Mandela and the autobiography is called Long Walk to Freedom.
It savages the mind that one could tolerate the inhumanity that befell him and his fellow leaders. Jailed for nearly 30 years on Robben Island, a speck of an island off the coast of South Africa, he endured such hardship that it totally boggles the mind as to how he and others survived.
During those hard years at the bleak prison, he and his fellow inmates learned physics, Latin and other academia from prisoners who were well educated. Mandela was able to effectively defend his fellows in many court trials while still in Robben Island Jail. (He had graduated with a law degree many years prior.) He filled his time in jail by reading all the great novels in Dutch, German and English. The biographies of the world’s leaders both past and present became the model of what he was to become.
He never stopped believing in his vision of a totally democratic country where everyone could live and work in harmony.
Reading this book, which took me the better part of June to finish, was a bit of an accomplishment because the vision of my right eye was being treated and returned with the aid of Lucentis injections at Sunnybrook Hospital here in Toronto. It was diagnosed in April that my macular degeneration had returned. I was forbidden by the specialist to drive until he saw my vision had returned. Last week, I got the go-ahead to drive again.
During the three months of my wife chauffeuring me to and from the office, she had a “vision” – a firm belief that my eyesight would return and it did well enough in May to be able to read again.
What does this mean to readers of this column? Well, for starters, we can opt to have the same commitment, the same vision, the same desire to learn as Mandela exemplified in his Long Walk to Freedom.
Please note that I don’t for a moment place my life anywhere near Mandela’s! Not at all. But here’s what I’ve learned over the four decades in this industry that we have all come to love and derive a handsome income from: If you have a vision, plan to succeed. Not to fail.
Inspiration from reading about successful people in business, politics or religion is of great benefit to you and those who depend on you for your wealth of knowledge.
I’m reminded of a quote from Shakespeare: “Be great in fact, as you have been in thought.”
I only hope that at this juncture in my life I have the opportunity to read many more inspirational and fulfilling books.
Finally, I would like to dedicate this 65th article to my late brother Norman Albert, who read most of my articles and was my role model in life and the art of living graciously and to the fullest.
Stan Albert, broker/manager, ABR, ASA at Re/Max Premier in Vaughan, Ont. can be reached for consultation at stanalb@rogers.com. Stan is now celebrating 40 years as an active real estate professional.
Stan Albert, ABR, ASA is a consultant with Re/Max Premier in Vaughan, Ont. He can be reached for consultation by email. Stan is now celebrating his 45th year as an active real estate professional.
