Life is full of twists and turns. Tables are still turning. In other words, it might be your turn today and it may be for another person’s tomorrow. Life can be so unpredictable that if you don’t have this rudiment understanding of life, you begin to write off people haphazardly.
Life is full of twists and turns. Share on XWe are often tempted to think those that are not doing well as we are, are lazy and unlucky. As such we snub them and treat them with disdain. We just conclude that they will not amount to much. In our mind, we will not need them for anything. How untrue.
Life is cyclical. It is foolhardy to write off anybody in this life because we think they are below us and they will not be useful to us.
According to a wise saying among the yorubas ‘even a bad boy has his own day’. I recall that during the lockdown here in Lagos, a group of urchins and riffraff known as one million boys tormented Lagosians.
Life is cyclical. It is foolhardy to write off anybody in this life because we think they are below us and they will not be useful to us. Share on XThey gave us sleepless nights as people had to observe vigil to protect their lives and property. Interestingly, during that period, it was the ‘bad boys’ in the streets that came out to defend us from the marauding thugs.
Let me tell you a personal story; there is this seamstress I exchange pleasantry with every day. Even when I am lost in thought and would not notice her, she would greet me.
One day, as I was approaching the junction innocently in the wee hours of the day, she hurriedly told me not to take a particular route with utmost caution and concern. I was confused at first as I froze. What is wrong with that path? What am I not seeing? I thought.
After regaining my composure, I looked around and noticed the danger ahead she was trying to protect me from. I thanked her for prompting me and I disappeared immediately from the scene. It took me weeks to get over it.
It is funny but we always need people even the ones we think we are better than maybe because of economical advantage, social class, education etc.
How do we approach someone you have written off because you felt you were better?
It does not have to be that way. Imagine you have a broke neighbour or a junior colleague that you have not been nice to, because of their financial status. After many struggles, he got a good job where you have been applying to. And now you need his help.
It does not cost anything to be good to people regardless of their social or economical class, but it cost a lot not to be nice. Tables are still turning. It might turn against you tomorrow. Nobody is saying you should be bugging people around.
It does not cost anything to be good to people regardless of their social or economical class, but it cost a lot not to be nice. Share on XI am not suggesting that everybody should be your friend. This is not to deprive you of your ‘space’ or allow your border to be porous. I am of the opinion that you should respect whoever crosses your path. Resist the urge to write people off, otherwise, you will receive a shocker soon.
Resist the urge to write people off, otherwise, you will receive a shocker soon. Share on XBy Emmanuel Onoja
Tell us your own stories about how people you did not expect helped you out.
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Don’t write anybody off