Five Ways We Can Keep Nelson Mandela's Legacy Alive

On Thursday, December 5, 2013,  we lost one of the most remarkable, iconic souls the world has ever known. His name was Nelson Mandela and the world is a better place because he was in it.

Known as a 20th Century Peaceful Freedom Fighter, Mr. Mandela demonstrated to the world how one person can single-handedly change the world. His unrelenting perseverance for equality and justice for all changed the face of his nation and continent forever. His ability to forgive was unlike most. Resilience? He had tons of it. After all, who can say they survived 27 years of unjust imprisonment and later become the President of their nation? No one. 

Mr. Mandela was a true testimony to how we should lead our lives and treat each other as fellow human beings. As we all take a look back on his life and the wisdom he shared with the world, here are five ways we can continue to keep his legacy alive today:

• Continued learning. The minute we stop learning and growing is the day way begin slowly dying. In Mr. Mandela's own words "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." 

• Never give up. There will always be setbacks in life, always, but we must continue to try despite how big the challenge may seem. Mr. Mandela said "It always seems impossible until it's done."

• Act in spite of fear. Sometimes our fears can be irrational and the internal dialogue we have with ourselves prevents us from taking action. As a result, many opportunities are missed because of fear. We must learn to conquer our fears by acknowledging them first and then envisioning a preferred outcome. Think of it as a "guess the outcome" kind of game. That way it makes it less personal and your feelings won't be as attached. In any event, do whatever it takes but don't let fear stop you from moving forward and being great. Mr. Mandela said "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

• Be more forgiving. Forgiveness is a quality that is hard to find in many people and, as a person who has been hurt many times before, it is a quality I find myself wishing I had more of as well. As I grow older, however, I find that holding on to resentment does the victim more harm than the aggressor. We must learn to acknowledge the hurt, allow ourselves an allotted time to deal with the pain, and then give ourselves permission to be done with it. Forgiveness is a choice and it is one that has to be consciously made. For Mr. Mandela said "resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies." The act of inviting the very same men who were responsible for unjustly imprisoning him to his Presidential Inauguration in peace will forever live on as a testimony to the world of the power of forgiveness. Mr. Mandela said "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."

• Live life purposefully. The worst thing in life is to live to be 95 years-old and have regrets. For that reason, we must live life on purpose and do the best we can with the time that we are given. It is only then that we can say we fully lived. Find your passion and do everything you can to fulfill it; it's our duty. Mr. Mandela said "there is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

There once lived a man who helped change the world. His name was Nelson Mandela and his job, here on earth, is done. Rest peacefully Madiba.

Dear Ositos, 

If you adopt even just one of these traits, you'll be way ahead of the curve. My hope, however, is that you will try to attain these and many more.

Los quiero mucho,


Your Mami-Bear