I remember vividly, our patriarch, Nelson Mandela's long walk to freedom in South Africa, then i began to realize that there is a sense in which we must realize that the scenario could be applicable to us as we live life daily.
I remember growing up as a child into a young adult in a family of three raised by a single mother widowed when we were still breastfed. The zeal to succeed was massive because I had to prove society and situations wrong. I fought my limitations and attacked poverty and lack aggressively. As the first child and son, you know you just needed to be a role model to siblings. It wasn't easy, but then I pushed.
I became first at many things from winning an international French Award at age 12, to making my first 1 million naira at age 17, ( just few weeks to my Senior School Certificate Examination), then writing and publishing of 3 books before the age of 20 years, starting a personal building project at 21, discovering and nourishing my talents and skills before 20. It has been a long walk to self discovery.
I really wasn't born with a silver spoon , I remember I had to serve a relative as house keeper at age 7 in Abuja where I faced life strengthening hardship and suffering, I now know I faced everything so I could be armed for the future. Everything now makes perfect sense to me, years and years after.
Most people no matter how old and independent they are will quite sadly perpetually be on a long walk to freedom. yes, academic, marital, financial, emotional, psychological, health, career freedom and so on because of over dependence on others.
An average Nigerian, or African by extension is taught to pass his exams and move to the next class, graduate with a first class honours and just maybe get some good paying jobs. the family, his friends, etc expect so much from the young soul, so he keeps growing with the feeling that he is owing people hence is insecure and unhappy.
He becomes what his family and society wanted him to, but still doesn't find freedom because he was always in the pursuit of another man's dreams for him. happiness is therefore found in doing what gives us fulfilment constantly.
A man can be 40 or even 60 yet is still searching, yearning for freedom and emancipation from himself, never in a man's life should he live life to please others because he will end up making others happy and not himself.
Some have married for purposes other than love, needless asking why a couple is already tired of a two year old marriage, they married for the wrong reasons. how about the new employer who just started a new job, yet he's already tired of it, it was a job he didn't really like.
I would go on and pretty on, but let's have some sober reflections, what really matters the most to us? can intrinsic happiness be found in doing the things we do?
A lot of folks have been on the long walk to freedom for years because of living another man's dreams. enough of people who start life pretty late because of confusing lifestyle and inability to put their tiny pieces together early.
You can be a graduate, yet not feel any positive vibes in life, yet feel so empty and blank, yes you could be married yet feel alone, how about he who is with a job yet feels idle. this is what happens when our souls or inner man isn't involved in what we do, we roam alone .
Pursuing my Dreams
There are agreeably three components of man, the body, soul and spirit. this belief is trans cultural and trans religious, it holds true in all aspects and civilizations. therefore man must bring in the three aspects of himself into what he does. if he fails to, he fatigues out too soon and fizzles away in loneliness and lack of fulfilment.
The soul and spirit gives enthusiasm or otherwise to our aspirations, where they're not in good states, life becomes sad and pathetic.
I think we must begin to plan our deaths from our birthdays, draw a map for our lives and aspirations, this way like the good book says, we would run along with the vision which is for the appointed time.
When the vision is clear quite early, it reduces over a hundred percent our long walk to freedom. Remember, a boxer doesn't practise in the ring and a footballer does not train in the match.
It's time to rise and run!
I am David Akaninyene Eteka, @AmbDavid...
And I am on my walk to my world.
