By Ayo Ogedengbe
I have crossed 66 and I am heading to 70. What sort of change am I feeling in me?
And this is it, I share with you all…..
- After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.
- I have just realised that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.
- I have now stopped bargaining with vegetables and fruits vendors. After all, a few naira more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket, but it may help the poor fellow save for his or her daughter’s school fees.
- I pay the taxi driver whenever I have cause to go out in a public transport without waiting for the change. The extra money might bring a smile on his face. After all, he is toiling much harder for a living than me.
- I have stopped telling the elderly, especially my 92 year old mother, that they’ve already narrated that story many times. After all, the story makes them walk down the memory lane and relive the past.
- I have learnt not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. After all, the bonus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
- I give compliments freely and generously. After all, it’s a mood enhancer, not only for the recipient, but also for me.
- I have learnt not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. After all, personality speaks louder than appearances.
- I walk away from people who don’t value me. After all, they may not know my worth, but I do.
- I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race. After all, I am not a rat and neither am I in any race.
- I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. After all, it’s my emotions that make me human.
- I have learnt that it’s better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. After all, my ego will keep me aloof whereas with relationships I will never be alone.
- I have learnt to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it may be the last.
- I am doing what makes me happy. After all, I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.
Ayo Ogedengbe (Oged), a veteran Journalist, writes from Akure.
