Nelson Mandela - Simplicity of Intention and Action.

The common Absurdist belief follows that the only two things that mankind can be certain of is life and death. It is the same for every man and woman, regardless of their status or wealth.

I think that’s something everyone should consider when we make decisions and take actions. We have a limited period on this earth, and we don’t even know the length of it. What matters is not the start of our life or our death, but the time in between. 

Nelson Mandela is someone who used his time effectively and is proof that sometimes simplicity in actions and intentions can create the biggest societal impact.

There appears to be no ‘idle time’ in his history. Even his twenty seven years on Robben Island wasn’t simply spent in isolation - his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom was drafted on scraps of toilet paper during his imprisonment and hidden in the garden outside his prison cell. 

Twenty-seven years of imprisonment is still difficult for me to understand because I’m only twenty. It seems practically nightmarish and untrue. But this is because I was born into a time when democracy was being introduced in South Africa, so I have no true understanding of the struggle the older generations of our country faced. The scary part is that I could have easily been born into a time of civil war in South Africa. But Nelson Mandela chose forgiveness over revenge, and I am able to enjoy rights, facilities and a life my parents and grandparents were not allowed to, able to choose my friends without the restriction of racial prejudice. 

Today marks the beginning of national mourning for the late president. But the best way to honour someone is to understand their legacy and do our best to ensure it’s never forgotten. For me, it will be his simplicity of his choices that will always stand out. Forgiveness saved South Africa from civil war. Wearing a t-shirt to show his support for those living with HIV and Aids created an awareness, eliminated any notion that is was taboo and gave hope to those affected by the illness. His support for the Springboks in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in the wake of democracy, helped unite South Africans,

He was never excessive and over-dramatic, just simple and poignant. And this is something we could all implement in the uncertainty between life and death.

Thank you, Nelson Mandela, for your simplicity, your compassion and your determination. May your legacy remain deeply rooted in African soil and help our country flourish.