"The country's harsh economy has made a lot of us find solace in our imagination; at least if they are not happening now, you can make them happen in your head." Dera said when we called his attention back to class.
designed in canva.
"There is a lot we all want to achieve, but that does not mean you stay absent-minded in class thinking about all that. School matters too, and that thing you plan to achieve can only be achieved when you take your studies seriously," I responded.
"Do you know that I am already living my dream life in my head? My imaginary life is 10 times better than the life I am living currently; sometimes I just want to be lost and left in thoughts because it feels better," Dera replied.
"Trust me, Nigeria may be a failed country, but it still works in favor of a lot of people. The only thing you have to do is put in the work and pray that the country works in your favor as well," I told
Dera is a very good friend of mine and a coursemate who never allows himself to rest from living a good life in his head. He is always talking about the type of life he dreams of and the types of things he wants to achieve. Sometimes he laments about how old he'll be soon and that he has not been able to achieve his set goals like he had planned to while growing up.
"Sometimes I regret being a Nigerian, as being a Nigerian has tampered with so many of my goals, and now I am just here living my dream life in my head while my reality is kind of a mess," Dera added.
"Sometimes in Nigeria, it is better not to have a plan, as you'd be more at peace if you don't make any plans; if you don't have any, the country won't spoil any for you," a coursemate overhearing our conversation chipped in.
"Hahaha!" We all laughed and focused on class.
Dera is that one friend who, with every given opportunity, journeys to the wonderland in his head. Give him a minute or two without attention, and he's off. One thing I noticed with this daydreaming addiction is that it makes him put so much pressure on himself, comparing himself with friends that have gone ahead of him and hardly appreciating how far he has come.
"If only I could just make the life in my head a reality, then I wouldn't be this depressed," Dera said on our way back home from school.
"Sometimes I feel like you should be the one who wrote the book of lamentations. You lament too much, bro. I know how bad you want a good and better life, and we all want the same, but always lamenting and complaining won't give you that good life," I responded.
"You are a brother; you help me see the bright side of everything," Dera said.
"Tomorrow you will come back lamenting like prophet Jeremiah in the Bible," I replied as we all laughed and went our separate ways.
Daydreaming does have positive effects, but the negative effects of daydreaming outweigh the positive. Sometimes daydreaming leaves you smiling, and sometimes it makes you feel like you are not doing enough, whereas you are giving everything your best shot. For Dera, it was more of a negative effect; whenever you find him lost in thoughts, sometimes you have to let him be instead of calling him back to reality, because the moment you do, you should be ready to listen to an epistle filled with laments.