Dear Idealistic Student,
It was a fun three days we had with you and your godmother, visiting places of culture like the British Museum, National Gallery, Science Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum. Seeing you again in London was a great pleasure, and though the time we spent together was short (just a few hours each day,) we thoroughly enjoyed your company and the things you had to say. It’s amazing to think it’s been five years since you were last in London. Your godmother thinks highly of you and has always told us what a remarkable young man you are: mature for your age with a curious mind, unlike your sister who is only interested in becoming a famous YouTube sensation.
Meeting people from other countries is important, but it’s a pleasure and also a bonus when they’re as interesting as your good self. We’re fortunate that in our line of work we get to meet the best minds from around the globe. They often come to us because they want us to tinker with their minds, but what we get back in return is more than just the financial reward. The shelves in the library of our home are filled with titles, either recommended or, most often than not, gifts from grateful and satisfied clients. As training consultants we’re fortunate to have great clients who understand and appreciate why EnvironMENTAL Training™ celebrates the dull, the boring and the uninteresting.
Many thanks for the amazing pictures you sent; we were very surprised at how good they were, when one considers they were shot without flash. Usually, we’re of the opinion that pictures taken on mobile phones in galleries and museums are mediocre and a waste of time, especially when the results are so dreadful they can’t be shared. You’ll be pleased to know your godmother managed to order a couple of GTech external hard drives for you to use with your MacBook Pro; 4TB and 8TB which should give you ample storage space for all your images. We don’t think you’ll run out of space anytime soon.
We trust you have managed to remain in cheerful spirits and have settled down. Now you’re back home, what are your plans? Have you come to a decision as to what to do about military service? In the coming months as you ponder and decide, bear in mind that when it comes to a tussle between the consequences of being idealistic and the realty of being realistic, stalemate is never an option. Since military service is expected of everyone of your age group and you’re in perfect health, there’s no official reason why you won’t be spending some time living a soldier’s life. We understand why you find the system ridiculous and are tempted to leave the country, the land of your birth, for good. (Remember, not everyone has the advantage of dual nationality.) However, if you decide on leaving and giving up your citizenship, you have to think of the position you’ll be placing your family in. Is the possible scandal and rift with members of your family something you can handle, especially with your family’s status and military background? Your mother, who just like your godmother dotes on you, will be hurt but she will stand by whatever decision you make; your father has threatened to disown you; your two older brothers have promised never to speak to you again; we also hear that even your great uncle, who is considered a liberal, is threatening to cut you out of his will.
Thinking over your current situation reminded us that we have a couple of clients who were once in a similar position as you now find yourself. In both cases, they were running successful businesses begun in their early teens; taking time out to comply with the law of the land would have had a negative effect on those businesses. Fortunately for the pair, they were able to find a compromise that satisfied all parties concerned: them and their business, their family and the government. We shan’t go into details about how this was achieved since the information was given to us in confidence.
We promised to send you some works about or by individuals whose duty and honour – irrespective of their philosophy or belief – meant they had to fulfil their duties as soldiers. If you’re prepared to put aside your views of a soldier’s life and read these books without bias or prejudice, you may find them of help in making the correct decision Can you do this?
The first book is Meditations by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. It’s a book we usually recommend to clients with large responsibilities who are concerned that they might make or be making mistakes. Ancient as the work is, many have told us that it was more than helpful to them in their business affairs.
Gutenberg – Marcus Aurelius – Meditations
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2680/2680-h/2680-h.htm#link2H_4_0018
Librivox – Marcus Aurelius – Meditations
https://librivox.org/the-meditations-of-the-emperor-marcus-aurelius-antoninus-by-marcus-aurelius/
YouTube – Marcus Aurelius – Meditations
Another book we recommend to business clients is The Bhagavad Gita or Message of The Master. There are several translations, but most clients prefer the Yogi Ramacharaka version. The book is about a warrior who has to fight against his will; we think its wisdom will help you during this period of important decision making.
The Bhagavad Gita – Yogi Ramacharaka
Click to access bhagavadgitaorme00chic.pdf
Librivox – The Bhagavad Gita (audio)
You’re at an age where you’re feeling idealistic and a wish to see a better world is only natural. Idealism can affect many people who consider themselves to be morally right; they believe that everyone must join them in whatever cause they’re championing and fight for a better world. They fail to realise that the battle is within themselves, and it is from within that all change first begins. For unless we renew ourselves by the renewal of our thoughts, what hope can we have of changing the world around us? It is better to start small, to start within ourselves, to grow steadily than to evangelise or (try to) coerce others to follow our views and beliefs. This is something that so-called leaders and those in authority fail to understand. If they did, they would act with wisdom and be a better example to those they govern.
Master your mind and thoughts and you will be amazed how this will lead you to the things you need for your future development and growth. The secret to a truly successful life is self-mastery. Those who are fortunate enough to have attained self-mastery are able to accept the good and bad, the positive and negative things in life with equanimity. It does not mean that they are passive or submissive, or that they refrain from taking the necessary actions to accomplish the changes they desire to see. But they do appear to be immune to negative influences or the frustrations and anxieties that harass so many of us, and are able to act decisively and with confidence under difficult and challenging circumstances.
Go out and enjoy your life. You’re only 18 years not 81 years old. We’re not suggesting that you should discard your idealism or lock it away in a cellar. On the contrary, you can find a balance between idealism, your present knowledge and experience, and the realistic changes you desire to see in your life and the world around you. As the Islington Twins have been heard to say, “You can care for the world and still be carefree at the same time.” Always remember this.
We hope – one never knows, does one? – that the conversations we had with you in London and what we’ve written here help to calm that restless, idealistic mind of yours. Are you leaving the planet tomorrow? Certainly not. So do not be in an almighty rush for anything. Relax; exercise patience. Everything has a right time and place. There’s so much for you to still learn and accomplish.
All the very best to you.
Yours sincerely,
Chuka Okonkwo & Dubem Okonkwo (The Tw↑ns)
Env↑ronMENTAL Training Agents
thetwinsenvironmentaltraining 