Written by Sheila Ocloo

Women of integrity move me. Famous women like Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé Knowles, Genevieve Nnaji, Princess Diana (Princess of Wales), Tina Turner, Jane Austen, Anne Frank, Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai, Marie Curie, Kryzayda Rodriguez, Eleanor Roosevelt, Grace Hopper, Mae Carol Jemison, et al. So sad, I do not know anyone from my country (Ghana) yet. The majority of these women listed above certainly have major flaws in their lives but, why do they stand out? There are many women like the above listed whose name even though in the HALL OF FAME, is NEVER mentioned often by the masses. A celebrity is a socially responsible individual, and not the joke people play on television. Where did these less noted names go wrong? One can argue or defend them by stating that financial impact was a sole contributor in creating such a gap. I beg to differ; money is not the problem and definitely not the solution. I can write on this issue because, I am a young woman with great aspirations who looks at the above for inspiration. Their works speak far more enough inspiration of strength, character, patience, endurance and beauty. I cling to these virtues like a cup of hot tea in winter. Beauty is not in makeup and looks, “PRETTY” is. One can be pretty, today and soon, like a blossoming flower, fade tomorrow. You will be hailed today and forgotten tomorrow, just like a “SPIRITLESS” music. BEAUTY IS A MAKEUP OF THE SOUL THAT LASTS FOREVER. BEAUTY lies in the smallest things. When a king steps down and sits with his servants is, TRULY WHAT MAKES HIM A KING, AND THE “LOVE POTION” HE SECRETLY GIVES HIS SUBJECTS TO MAKE THEM FEAR HIM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. God in HIS splendor and might is THE FIRST SERVANT. Who serves mankind more than GOD? HE is so HUMBLE in a very beautiful way. HUMILITY AMPLIFIES YOUR STATUS IN LIFE. HUMILITY IS THE BEAUTY OF LIFE. God commands RESPECT. RESPECT FOLLOWS GOD (whether HE likes it or not). Until GOD stops serving, HE WILL CEASE TO BE. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT. Interact with the commoner, listen carefully at their criticisms, even if they are insulting. Work towards them. I bet you in no time, you will be feared. I remember I had an opportunity to meet an “affluent” woman in this country (Ghana). Fast forward, I knelt and begged this woman for any kind of job to help my ailing business. I was ready to clean the shoes. I was desperate. This woman looked at me and told me to leave, she will call me. Dear reader, up to this day, I never got a response. At least, I expected a
response like “…. I am sorry I will not be able to help you ……”. That would have made me respect her even more. The irony and twist to this is, she is a Christian and very loud on the airwaves. Like blown-out candlelight, I just lost my respect for her. Compare a similar attitude to Oprah Winfrey who wrote to a classmate of mine several years ago that, she will not be able to write to her often, this perhaps might be her last letter to her due to her busy schedules. She gave her a book as a souvenir. Isn’t this beautiful enough?
When you disrespect others, YOU DISRESPECT YOURSELF. You tell us, that you are not worth yourself. You don’t love yourself. We see how hard YOU TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT POWER OR POSITION. Such positions are held with GRACE AND EASE. It comes as a shock to most people especially young women when you behave rather rudely. Anytime you do not listen and snob others when their opinions need to be heard, YOU REMIND THEM OF THEIR LOW SELF WORTH. Anytime you DO NOT SAY SORRY TO ANYONE YOU OFFEND, IT SHOWS HOW IMMATURE, SHALLOW MINDED AND THE POOR LEVEL OF YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. Showing LOVE does not mean you are weak. It reveals how strong you are.
Let me drop my last bomb. The truth of the matter is women in this country who behave this way are NOT AFFLUENT. They are stingy because they are afraid, they will lose their money. They want to have THE FINAL SAY BECAUSE THEY FEAR. They snob others and walk-in clicks because they LACK LOVE, show me a loner and I will show a STRONG PERSONALITY. They prefer feeding on the fake praises of other women to survive. Help the younger generations. If you don’t want to, then HIDE YOURSELVES. DON’T DISTURB US WITH YOUR PUBLIC GALAVANTINGS, YOU ARE CREATING DUST. We want your names up there. IF YOU HAVE IT, PROVE IT, DON’T FORCE IT TO BE PROVEN. It hurts when you have a clear chance opportunity in front of you and yet you don’t see it. Sister, JUST SNOB THE PRIDE OFF, EMBRACE LOVE. The rich and famous are LOW AND HUMBLE. No wonder the Queen of England is always hailed despite all her flaws. It is noted she takes occasional walks to a drinking spot where she takes a glass of beer and interacts with the commoners. The Princess of Wales hugged a commoner on national television, it moved thousands to tears. She even went as far selling the public that life as a Princess is not easy. Oprah Winfrey gave out thousands of dollars to the audience on set during one of her talk shows. This act of kindness despite several controversies around it shot her to fame. Kryzayda Rodríguez died of stomach cancer in

1. Before her death, she is noted and famous for encouraging women to live a positive and happy life irrespective of what you have in life. She was such a great fashionista. Maya Angelou is a standing ovation. Genevieve Nnaji is respected by how well she interacts with the public and how perfectly she hides from social media. Tina (Ama) Turner, a strong woman who defied all odds. She gave credit to whom due when she rose to stardom the second time after she left her husband.
   What have you done to be noted in the hearts of Ghanaians, dear Mrs. Affluent?
   In summary, the difference in the above-listed lives to others is the way each of these women loved others. THEY WERE HUMBLE IN THEIR WALK. Even though we lost quite several them through death, their memory lives on. They touched hearts when they STOOPED LOW. They demonstrated LOVE. Ironically on my list, are not so many Christians. “WHAT IS HEAVEN, WHEN YOU ARE BORN AGAIN, STINGY AND PROUD, YOU DIE AND STAY IN A MANSION UP THERE AND HELL, WHEN YOU LOVED HEART AND SOUL, YOU STOOPED LOW IN HUMILITY, TOUCHED LIVES and you are given a plot
   OF LAND FULL of fire that constantly burns you FOREVER”?….. I CHOOSE THE

LATTER…

I choose Hell, so that others, through my help will GO TO “THEIR” HEAVEN. I prefer
BEAUTY FOREVER IN THE HEARTS OF MEN THAN BE FORGOTTEN. Besides, who is a
Christian? I rest my case.