I am sure you have watched great boxing matches. They are a delight to watch especially if your favourite boxer is on a winning streak. But it's tough when the tide turns, to see that boxer being pummeled with heavy blows from all angles, resulting in a swollen face, broken teeth and puffed up eyes.

This game normally has one-minute rest for each of the three-minute rounds with each boxer being supported at his respective corner by two trainers and a cutman (doctor). The trainers provide feedback on the ensuing bout whilst the cutman is responsible for keeping the boxer's face and eyes free of cuts and excessive swelling. The corner is also responsible for stopping the fight by throwing in the towel if they feel the boxer is in grave danger of permanent injury. This act of throwing in a white towel signifies a boxer's surrender despite the possibility of his steadfast refusal. It's game over! The toil and sweat have come to nought!

Though life is tough and takes no prisoners, we can, however, glean lessons from the game of boxing by either giving your all or throwing in the white towel.

You normally start life with so much enthusiasm until you are knocked off the lane of innocence, due to a terminal illness, the death of a parent, spouse, loss of job or relationship. At this stage, you normally experience the different states of raw emotions; anger, grief, shock and fear. You might even receive counsel from your 'corner' to retreat and accept it as fate. The 'blows' of such a tragedy may have informed this decision and the bailout is normally linked to sympathy. Life is reset, without any hope of a comeback and shackled to live the rest of life full of regret or shame, always looking back to a what-could-been victorious bout with life. The white towel is now in livid crimson. Members of the corner may vanish into thin air in the absence of a crown.

You can, however, decide to be the one who never takes a white towel into the bout with life because of the determination to make it a one-way victory. You have to be resolute, never backing down, and ensure your 'corner' are people of the same feather. And yes rest, if required, but only for a moment but be always ready before the bell rings. Remember it's your life and your conquest may be the cause for another man's reason to fight on. Create a movement with your story. Let it resonate with the masses. You may be one or two generations removed from success but do it anyway. Close the gap for the next generation.

And even if you decide to take along a towel into life, let it be for cleaning purposes, whilst you rest and strategize for the next round. Hold onto this towel yourself less it be thrown into the fight by sympathizers who do not fully understand your destiny. Let them understand their role as pure advisers and not destiny-makers. Nobody but you should decide what you can handle. For when it's all done and dusted and you are being ushered into the hall of fame, they will conveniently join the fray to the say ' we knew he/she could do".

So my advice for life: Get in the ring with dogged determination to outlast the challenges, select the best 'corner people' and take no white towel. 

Get ready to rumble!!!!.