Nelson Mandela Dies Legacy Teaches Us All

'Madiba’ was Nelson Mandela’s nick name.  Madiba is gone.

We at Boothe Global Perspectives ask this question. What can we learn from his life? What is the "Take-Away?" 

1. He spent a total of 27 years in prison, and yet lived to be 95.  It would seem that with beautiful irony that the universe gave him a long life to make up for that time lost. Could it be, that things tend to balance out in the lives of some people? Was he destined, or was it a combination of incredible mental focus and determination?
2. He was by all accounts a good man. Sensitive. Intelligent. Intent of helping the people of his nation. Could it be that more of us need to consider how we can help our people? Even at an early age Mandela was intent on making a difference. He was persistent in developing an image of integrity and progress.
3. He in personal dealings was patient, respectful, gentle and good spirited.  Hmmmmmm, what does this suggest to us?
4. He once said that “Music and dancing bring me joy and enriches life”.  Alas our lives should never become too busy for music, singing and dancing.
5. He was tormented, slandered, beaten and yet his stature elevated him to fame.  It would seem that every “blow” that Mandela endured elevated him, refined him, and lifted him to higher levels of influence.
6. He was called a socialist, communist, revolutionary, terrorist.  Yet with time, and persistence he was able to elevate the station and freedoms of his people.  Those people who attacked and opposed him, ultimately were judged by the world for the reality of intolerance and mean spiritedness of their actions.  Mandela rose above all of them.  Progressive thinkers often, most often, “rock the boats” of mainstream people.  Their ideas are at first dismissed as radical and dangerous, then gradually their ideas (if true and sound) evolve into the mainstream of life.  Mandela continued to teach and elevate the thinking of his nation.
7. Magnetic, with a sense of humor, Nelson Mandela suffered so much pain, and yet, he set individuals “at ease” as if he were their equal.  Even his enemies, gradually came to like him, even when they opposed him.  Mandela, like the Dahla Lama, connects with people with a smile of understanding.  It is a powerful way to communicate. 
8. He had a beautiful level of humility that seemed to ripen as he aged. He said:

 “The first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.” – Nelson Mandela  

“HE IS NO LONGER OURS, HE BELONGS TO THE AGES”  President Obama said of Mandela’s death.

"Mandela was one of those men, who created himself, and chose a path of image, message and influence for a lifetime.  Few do this, we call them great."  Ben Boothe, Sr.