HOW I RETIRED AT 26

 If it Takes a Village to raise a child, what is a child to do when the village is asleep? - Asha Tyson

How I Retired at 26
By Asha Tyson
ATD publishing
1998, 2001, 2003.
Reviewed by Matthew Ujah-Peter

Asha Tyson's own account of how she rose from being homeless to becoming a world renowned success strategist and a motivational speaker who is been sought after from all over the world.  The book is an account of how a person can take charge of his/her life and destiny in rising from poverty to influence and affluence.

Fore-worded by the best-selling author, Les Brown, the book opens with "A personal Letter from Asha Tyson..." as an introduction. Here's some quotes from the letter:

 "...If you are still reading, I believe you are the person who is ready to embark upon a wonderful journey of fulfillment. And I give you applause!...Think of it as conversation with a successful friend who really want to see you have the life you desire. And if you'll let me, I'd be honored to help you. Here, I'm offering what I used to realize my own dreams. ...''Retirement'' isn't solely an economical event, it encompasses the theory of ''complete package'' living.

During our time together in the first three chapter, I share very personal experience about myself, including the early accounts of neglect, abuse and homelessness. I pray it inspire you to realize a higher level of potential yourself.

"...believe me, if I can be successful, it's possible for you too, and it's never too late or too early to begin. As a matter of fact, you are right on time.

It was age twenty-six when I got it! It was the most enlightening time in my life. I was ready for the lesson, and the teacher came..."

I will here like to turn some of the pages and let you read some portions of the book once again. This time from cahpter one, pages 23 - 24.

 

''Momma's hospital visit grew closer together now and lasted anywhere from  from two weeks to a month . In the hospital, out of the hospital, in three weeks, out three weeks. Back in, back out. This was our life.
 Although most of her attacks happened at home, she could suddenly be stricken with pain anytime, anyplace. Her cries were like thunder thatcame from the bottom of soul. She would fal, on her kneels , lie on her face and grovel to God. She woould lose all composure  and toss widely, rocking herself back and forth on the shiny floor. Her body was doubled over in a knot while she wailed and cried out for help[. Momma with hger piercing screams, begged  for mercy as though some one had set her on fire, but but she couldn't run and she couldn't die. Her smooth face was wet with sweat. And tears poured from her yellow eyes. I couldn't do anything to helop  Momma. No one could. The only thing to do was execute The Plan.

"I knew it well. I had been trained how to kick  into emergency mode by age four. My moves were experienced and well versed. I was careful not miss a step, mindful to remain calm and attentive to the fact that Momma's life was at stake.  While she endured agony, I used the chair to reach the butterscotch colored phone mounted on the kitchen wall.
 "Press 911. Tell them that she is having a 'crisis'. I'd been taught to give the address, complete with landmarks. There were only five houses on ach side of our block, and we were hard to find. Our place was isolated, tucked away. Unless you knew exactly where you were going, you would never get there. Nothing drove dowbn our streen, for the most part, not even the ice cream truck. Many of the paramedics who had been successful said that they found us  because  I had  told them we were wedged between two alleys.  I was always so proud of being helpful. After hanging up with the dispatcher, my next step was to call   the relatives who hadn't been allowed to love me. I never wanted to but I had no choice. I didn't know their phone number by heart , but I knew the pattern. It was round with a dip at the top..
Next, it was time to help Momma put clothes on her aching body. I was gentle. Even while distressed and in pain, Momma  always thanked me for getting her dressed. Then I sat still-quit, numb, waiting. The house was silent as I listened only the sound of suffering coming from my tortured momma"

Asha's childhood was a painful one. As a child she struggled  to be accepted by her relatives while her mother was sick  in the hospital. She would face terrible abuses from her mother's male friends; she had to struggle to avoid being murdered by her own mother eventually went insanes.Then, as I teenager, Asha became homeless. Again, hear:

''Alone and disconnected from my place , my origing, my people and even myself, I still had to make it. Id run the full gamut of bureaucratic red tape, trying to get social service assistance, community outreach, non-profit organization support, or anything that would help me find a a place in this world. Everywhere I turned I was told the same thing: 'You're not a candidate for any of our programs'
I was always either too old, too young, too late , or only qualified as a teen mother. The drill was always trthe  same : 'I' m sorry we can't help you. Don't you  have a family? Are you being abused?, Where is your father? When I couldn't explain my predicament, I was sent away.....I left them, never understand  why no one understood. I didn't know how to explain my life - any of it....."

But Asha did took her own destiny in her own hand. Asha did solved the riddle of her own life withe the summary below:

                                                                             

                                                                          Riddle:

         If it takes a whole village to raise a child,
           what is a child to do when the village is asleep?

                                                                             Answer:

          Be grateful for what had always been God's protection,
           pardon the sleepyheads of the past
 and live powerfully enough to help wake the village for others.

Asha Tyson

Asha unabashedly and openly shared the shocking story of her ordeal with her ailing mother and the struggles to survive and stand up for herself in the hostile environment she found herself as a child. ''...No human being can accurately predict how your story will end. You can do anything!...'' Asha writes. And in case this sound like just another motivational book the reader will find it useful and relevant as he / she read through the first two chapters of this inspiring book. Those chapters read mostly like an abridged version of Asha's personal memoir.

I personally have read this book about three times and each time it sound like I am reading it for the first time. If I can get this book into the hands of every young Africans I will be fulfilled. What gems of wisdom awaits you if you will read this book. What is success? What is wealth? What does it mean to retire? What is life all about? Asha's got her own answers - answers that will leave you re-prioritizing and reorganizing your own life.