so today i sat at the airport in ghana and i recalled my very first trip outside the country four years ago to this same place. having been properly educated in private schools all my life, i constantly had people express shock and surprise to realize i schooled all my life right here in lagos...as people expect that the manner with which i speak english is evident of foreign education. if only they knew that i did not have any such luxury and my parents barely could afford to give me private education with great sacrifice. if only i knew that if would take 5 years of working hard, 4 different jobs and 29 years of living to finally step out of nigeria.
i remember being ashamed to tell people i had never been out of the country. it almost began to seem that there was someting wrong with me for not having the good fortune to have gone on holidays to america and the uk and around the world. especially surrounded by friends whose parents were doing much better. the uk seemed larger than life, ghana sounded like paradise and everyday that went by without any hope to cross the borders even by road looked like i was missing something.
but today, as i sat at yet another tiresome airport and having checked out of yet another cold boring hotel on a beautiful weekend i should be resting, i suddenly realize that it is never too late to start living. if nothing else, i am now fully convinced that as long as you stay alive, the feeling is still the same when good things eventually happen for you (as it definitely will). you wont be too old to feel the excitement of a new place, your need to whine about every travel discomfort will not grow old and as usual, you will get tired after the fifth country with the two hour immigration.
and so now, in yet another cold boring hotel room in ivory coast i have decided to put this down. to remind myself some day that it is never too late for life. if it will happen for you, you will enjoy it just as fully when it eventually happens. and this applies to everyone waiting for something. marriage, job, kids and fortune. there are certain things we do not control, and no amount of worrying and being ashamed will make it happen faster than it should. prayer helps you put your wait into perspective but try not to let it bother you. it takes God a day to turn everything around for you. you will have all your dreams exceeded someday and then you too will realize...that it is never ever too late. ever.
see y'all around peeps. keep the faith.
i remember being ashamed to tell people i had never been out of the country. it almost began to seem that there was someting wrong with me for not having the good fortune to have gone on holidays to america and the uk and around the world. especially surrounded by friends whose parents were doing much better. the uk seemed larger than life, ghana sounded like paradise and everyday that went by without any hope to cross the borders even by road looked like i was missing something.
but today, as i sat at yet another tiresome airport and having checked out of yet another cold boring hotel on a beautiful weekend i should be resting, i suddenly realize that it is never too late to start living. if nothing else, i am now fully convinced that as long as you stay alive, the feeling is still the same when good things eventually happen for you (as it definitely will). you wont be too old to feel the excitement of a new place, your need to whine about every travel discomfort will not grow old and as usual, you will get tired after the fifth country with the two hour immigration.
and so now, in yet another cold boring hotel room in ivory coast i have decided to put this down. to remind myself some day that it is never too late for life. if it will happen for you, you will enjoy it just as fully when it eventually happens. and this applies to everyone waiting for something. marriage, job, kids and fortune. there are certain things we do not control, and no amount of worrying and being ashamed will make it happen faster than it should. prayer helps you put your wait into perspective but try not to let it bother you. it takes God a day to turn everything around for you. you will have all your dreams exceeded someday and then you too will realize...that it is never ever too late. ever.
see y'all around peeps. keep the faith.
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:D Oshe pupo pupo.