There is a man celebrating his 90th birthday today in a village in South Africa. But it is not just any man. It is indeed Mr Nelson Mandela, the man who cleared his country and the world of apartheid and also united his country without the much feared bloodbath.

South Africa too is celebrating with him as are many people around the world. Here is a man who dedicated his life to his people and his country. Since his “retirement” from public life, he has played a major role around the world as the most respected and revered elder statesmen of our time.

Here is a timeline for Mr Mandela’s amazing and inspirational life.

During a series of public appearances around the world over the past few weeks, Mr Mandela’s life and work have been celebrated around the world. People from all walks of life recognise how this one man got rid of apartheid without bloodshed, and also how he united South Africa despite being imprisoned for 27 years.

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Life always offers us lessons and sometimes in the harshest way possible. As we grow older, we are all likely to lose our friends, parents, family members. The passing of our loved ones and indeed our own passing one day one of the only guarantees that we have in this life.

Possibly the only other guarantee we have in life is that we will never get done all we want to do. We all continue to fill up our time and our lives with activities and objects that will ultimately not save us from the final passing.

However, turn this realisation around and you will appreciate that we only have this one precious life right now and it is up to us to make the most of each moment in the way that best suits us.

What would it be like to live a life of meaning and one filled with love?

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