From Robben Island to real life — the long walk within

UPON reflecting on Mandela Day, I thought of strength, wisdom, courage and greatness reflecting a true leader and visionary.

- KRSANGI RADHE DASI

Those are qualities that we identify with the first democratic president of the Republic of South Africa. However, those qualities were difficult to maintain and keep alive under the extreme mental and physical distress that Madiba had undergone for 27 years as a captive on Robben Island.

The mind of Madiba and the way he handled the hardships that we forced upon him was amazing.

He had the focus to study, the determination to come out alive, the vision to build unity, and the forgiving heart to heal the nation.

All of these qualities are so deeply rooted in becoming free from the prison that we create for ourselves.

On a daily basis we have choices that we can make that will either keep us trapped or set us free. Madiba chose the later - although he was literally trapped in the walls of a cold and small prison cell, he set his mind free so that he could achieve freedom.

Vision

When you have a vision that you believe in - you will never lose hope.

The trick here is to have firm belief, to actually fall in love with that vision, and when you do - you will want to take every step possible to see that vision come to pass. Madiba had a vision to have equality. He firmly believed in it and felt it with all his heart.