Life as we know it is one big yarn of mess. I do not have any ounce of strength to motivate you because motivation is a temporary high. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. Fuck motivation; this life is war. Every day you wake up, in front of you are two choices: fight for your life or allow life to show you who is boss. Trust me - you do not want to be on the losing end of this fistfight. Left hook, right hook and an excellent uppercut would have you begging for it to end. To live is to fight.
The cruelty of existence does not care about your age. The younger you are, the easier it is for life to knock you down. Life is a coward, and it does not fight fair. I remember in JSS2 when I missed lunch because I was late to the dining hall. I also missed breakfast for the same reason. I was famished that day with nothing but Golden Morn in my box. I tried looking for milk and sugar, but people either did not have them or were unwilling to give me. That day I ate my cereal with water and cried till my bowl was empty. The hatred in my heart for the people at my table that day grew. Life will turn you into a monster if you let it.
ps: I hate Golden Morn to this day.
Life is beautiful too. Waking up every morning to your lover's voice or walking with nothing but your favourite song playing in your ears is soothing. The beach is a magical place to be, except it is ELEGUSHI. That place is terrible if you’re looking to pretend you’re in a movie. One of the best experiences is sitting with friends, having drinks, and eating with endless banter. Life worries fade into the background, and everything seems whole.
You’ll find joy in life within companionship. The person who said a man isn’t an island was in his bag. In 2021, I went to Olamides’ listening party with some friends. At the gate, we realised the tickets were fake. We stood outside and laughed. If I were alone, I’d have been boiling mad with the metaphoric smoke leaving my head. We found an empty lounge and had the best night with music, food, drinks, and bottomless jokes. The night was young, and the burden of life was light. Companionship is essential; it doesn’t matter the name you give it.
Life is what my literature teacher calls an oxymoron. It’s bitter sweet, and clearly confused. Like the popular meme, sometimes it may be good, and sometimes it may be shit.
But you have to fight for what you want from it. I spoke to a friend yesterday, and they said, “ If it was meant to be, it would have been. If it is meant to be, it will be.” But leaving life to luck is such a gamble. You have to go out there and take what you want. Nothing is free. Something always has to give.
I leave you with the words of a great Nigerian philosopher,
“Life go teach you pass professor on the road.”
…Zinoleesky
Your random observation is my reality now. I'm at a hangout with my church's unit that I just joined, and I'm sincerely enjoying myself and everything, I picked up my phone because everyone is playing a game, I'm not playing because I just want to watch. But watching is therapeutic.
Makes a whole lot of sense. Thank you