Coming from a typical society as mine, almost—if not every child has had their share of pitiful forgetful experiences. As a child, you're prone to be sent on errand more than once or twice a day, you tend to get lost in the message. With our minds lost in that play we were detached from, the only thing on our minds at such moments was the play we are missing out from rather than the message we're on errand for. Guess, what? You know it, we received good lashes for such attitude from the ever-loving parents. Ha-ha. Most times, when we knew we've forgotten the message, we knew as well we're in for a not good ride.
The ability to forget something isn't a character that can be totally eradicated from humans. Due to engagements and a number of tasks to meet up, sometimes leaving home in haste to meet up with time, I think it's only fair to agree that we will certainly get to forget some things. This is not an advocacy for the promotion of carelessness and nonchalance, no. It's an effort to try to state things as they are.
Forgetfulness can cost a whole lot, ranging from meager things to things of utmost concern. We can afford to forget to do things, nevertheless, some things we can't afford the opportunity to for the grave consequences they can bear. These consequences or effects can tend to build a lifelong experience of pain and regret. With the minor cases, these effects can be minimal and brief. However, we can't afford to be so forgetful.
I've had my share of forgetful experiences, ranging from the ones of minimal effects to the ones of huge consequences. There was this recent experience. It wasn't a pleasant one as I felt the effect of forgetfulness in that situation.
On this beautiful, kind of hot afternoon, I was in a position where I really needed to refill my gas cylinder. Right before embarking on the journey, I could feel my body already complaining and counting the distance. The route was not one you'll find a vehicle passing through. Knowing there was no choice than to let my foot become the vehicle, I set out. After walking some good meters, I finally arrived the station. With all ease and rest within me, I made the transaction and had my cylinder refilled for the amount I paid. Considering that I now had half of the journey ahead, I found solace in that, my body still complaining though. Here then comes the issue.
My gas cylinder was leaking! How did I not know that? No, I did, but guess what? Yeah, I forgot. It's been a while I used it so I totally forgot that. It does leak when the burner parts are detached from the body, so the remedy always was to take those parts along when going for a refill. I was now calculating how long and how much energy it will take for me to make a to and fro and to journey. I had to walk back pick those parts, get back to the station and then walk back home—else I would lose half the gas I refilled. Thanks to the operator who had to help me out in some ways too.
Beyond the stress of the journey, the effect of that almost cost me a journey I was supposed to take that day, had it been the journeys wasn't postponed for some reasons. Something learned through this was to always try and prepare ahead of time, it might offer one the opportunity and time to discover and put some things in order.
I've learned to address the subject by putting notes in place as reminders. These notes are either physically or digitally. Funny how many of those you'll find. In some cases, I try to execute the tasks immediately as the situation might permit. There’s this saying that, "the dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind". That statement may be placing a value for writing; however, I find that deep within, it places value to writing things so as to avoid forgetting them.
All images are mine
