If many of us would think about what will happen when we are no longer here, we would pay closer attention to how we live our lives and ensure they are well lived and purposeful. We should not throw our lives away by engaging in things that will not benefit us in the long run
There is a Yoruba proverb that says, “Oku kò mọ̀ ẹni àti rìn,” which in English means that a dead person does not know what happens after his demise.
Until You Die
There is an adage in my locality that goes thus: “Ẹni tí kò tíì kú kó lè mọ orú ìkú tí yóò pa á.” This means that someone who is not yet dead can not truly tell the kind of death that will take them. This is why it is never good to mock someone or their situation, because you never can tell if you may experience similar circumstances.
As long as we are still alive, we can run our mouths as much as we like, say whatever comes to our minds, and feel on top of the world, until death comes and humbles us.
The Best Legacy We Can Leave Behind
It is good to leave an inheritance for our children so they can leverage it and possibly build an empire. This is particularly true of businessmen and women who create generational wealth. It is not easy for anyone—whether young or old - to start from scratch, especially where there is no functional system in place. When there is no structure, hustle becomes difficult and exhausting. It can even make a hardworking person seem lazy or inadequate.
It is always important to build and operate within a working system because it makes wealth easier to accumulate. There is also a Yoruba adage that says, “Tí a bá bẹ̀ ní bá lá, ó lọ́kò kì í yá.” This suggests that when wealth is acquired through strong support and structure, it is more sustainable. Conversely, for someone without strong backing, success can be extremely difficult, if not nearly impossible.
Value Is a Scarce Commodity
However, value added is far better than material wealth because material things can vanish in the twinkle of an eye. There is another Yoruba adage: “Ọmọ tí a kò kọ́ ni yóò ta ilé tí a kọ́.” This means that a child who is not properly trained may end up selling the house we built. It is very true that if we fail to install moral values and teach our children the importance of hard work, everything we claim to have built may go to waste when we are no longer here.
Nothing is forever. That is why I often question people who kill or commit atrocities just to acquire money. Is it truly worth it in the end? Another important question we must ask ourselves is:Where do we go after this life on earth? Do our deeds qualify us to enter the Kingdom of God? Perhaps it exists, or perhaps it does not. It depends on what one chooses to believe and accept.
Life is only for a while. Therefore, we must live it to the fullest,without leaving with regret.
