Think new thoughts…

 I recently came across an intriguing quote by Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie, an Indian-born British-American novelist. It reads thus:

“Those who do not have the power over the story that dominates their lives, power to retell it, to re-think it, deconstruct it, joke about it and change it as times change, truly are powerless, because they cannot think new thoughts”

This quote provokes me to think about how to think new thoughts and the power of story-telling.

On 30th September 2022, I had the privilege to attend the launch of Rusty Global Media (RGM) TV here in Rustenburg, a Community TV Station. During the event, I had the privilege of listening to stories of ordinary women who have made extra-ordinary achievements in and around the North West province of South Africa. What is common among them is that their stories are untold, yet they have positively impacted countless lives.

In fact the vision to establish RGM TV was inspired by the story of Mrs Diratsagae (RIP) who achieved 100% pass rate for the high school students she was teaching. She impacted on the lives of many high school learners in laying a solid foundation for their education careers. When she sadly passed away, her husband Apostle Derrick Diratsagae said to himself: “I need to celebrate the legacy of my late wife by telling her story. I will do so, by also searching for other women whose stories are untold, that we can celebrate them.” Hence the birth of the RGM TV and the launch event on 30 Sept 2022. He has also partnered with Ms Regina Kgasoe a Media Professional in establishing RGM TV.

In preparing for my speech for the event, the words in the quote of Sir Rushdie kept echoing in my mind… think new thoughts… think new thoughts… think new thoughts.

I was further reminded me of the words by the ancient Chinese philosopher and writer – Lao Tzu. He says: “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

So in linking the two quotes, I realize it all starts with one possessing and using the power of telling one’s story to have the ability to think new thoughts.

And how can one tell their story effectively? This was the gist of my speech: the Power of Media to tell one’s story, such as the RGM TV.

The well-known American poet, Maya Angelou goes on to say: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

So if you do not have the power to tell your story, it is possible that you cannot think new thoughts. You could also bear the agony of the untold story inside you.

What is your Story? What is the untold Story inside you? How best can you tell your Story? What is stopping you from telling your Story?

I believe that each one of us has inherent power to tell the story that dominates our lives. We have power to retell our story, to re-think it, reconstruct it and joke about it. We can change our story as times change, and most importantly we have the potential and ability to… think new thoughts.

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