Regrettably, I couldn't participate, but the writing suggestion stayed with me, maybe because I came across the same topic in a book I am reading.
The writing topic was “Death is inevitable. It is beyond our control to prevent it from happening. What would you do if you were to learn that your death is imminent?...”
I met a government official at the courthouse about a month ago. According to him, he took a liking to me because I looked like his sister, and so he decided to approach me. We exchanged numbers, and we have been friends ever since. He says he feels like we’ve known each other for longer than a month and he feels special because of it, but, I get that a lot. People tend to be free and chatty around me. Maybe I’m just a good conversationalist, or maybe I’ve got rizz, haha. Anyway, he gave me a book to read. He said he loved it, it helped him, it’s a good book and he thinks I should read it too. It’s called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People written by Stephen R. Covey.
#killingtwobirdswithonestone: #makingthepostnotsomorbid #whatthebooklookslike :D
I had just come across the 160th LoH contest and in no time, I had a draft copy of what I thought would be my entry, saved. But then, another activity consumed me and I never got to editing the writeup or posting it. Only a couple of days later, I got to a page in the book that suggested an exercise asking me to imagine I was at a funeral of a loved one, and on getting close, I see it’s me in the coffin and asking me what I would like my friends, co-workers and/or family members to say about me, if they were to speak. The exercise required that I write it all down, which I readily did. This is what I’ll be sharing with you today.
A sentence in the book encapsulates the purpose of the exercise but that’s not why I’m going to capture it here. I will, because, just like the contest writing topic, it struck me.
If you carefully consider what you wanted to be said of you in the funeral experience, you will find your definition of success.
The book goes further to say, and this is for you, readers, that, “it may be very different from the definition you thought you had in mind.”
<In case you're wondering, this is a ceiling>
By Co-workers
She was a very powerful and influential woman in our Justice System. She touched the lives of many defenseless victims of oppression, especially those oppressed by the government and the JS. She was a force to reckon with during her short time at the Bar, as well as her time on the Bench, and will be dearly missed by both. At this point, I would love to say that the NBA and the NJC would not be the same without her, but that would be a bit far from the truth. She not only did the right thing, but has inspired and actively trained others to do the right thing. She has affected considerable and highly positive change, directly and indirectly, and for this, her legacy will live on. The seeds of justice, fairness and equity, which have been planted by the likes of Lord Denning, have died long and painful deaths in our Nigerian society but My Lady Justice has replanted, watered and nurtured, as the seeds require. My Lady, you vessel may be gone from this world, but your inspirational legacy is immortal. Adieu!
By friends
I could go on and on with adjectives: thoughtful, very nice, bold, stern, assertive (what some, especially her senior siblings or piblings would call rude… haha). She was a brave and very smart woman and she gave the best advice; personal, relationship, legal, you name it. She was also a perfectionist and would leave no stone unturned in her quest for justice. She was always considerate of others whatever life threw at her, and would do all in her power to prevent being a burden to others, even if they wouldn’t see whatever it was, as burdensome.
Now one thing we all disapproved of was her justifications for some actions, explaining and explaining just so she’s understood. She always thought that once the offended party understood why she did what she did, it would somehow erase the anger and make them see that there was really nothing to be upset about. While this feature of hers was something she learned to let go of, apologising even when she strongly believed she’d done nothing wrong, armed with the conviction that she did indeed offend, despite any contrary intention, I secretly admired it. Because this approach, as ineffective as it was in her personal life, was very effective in her work life. It is very ideal in the study of crimes and criminals and by extension, in the making of laws and in sentencing. As a friend who has experienced how the law can be wrongly applied, despite my not being a practicing lawyer, I commended it but I never got the opportunity to tell her.
She was as caring as she was generous and would only be happy if others were happy. She knew to extend her good graces and delighted in “the more people to share food with, the merrier”. Yep, she loved food, haha
By family
<My mother's 2nd daughter 💕>
Her friends have said it all. They knew her almost as much as we did and the sides of her which we may have misunderstood, have been captured well by them. I must add that my sister was fun to be around. There was never a dull moment with her, however bad her jokes and however tiring her troubles were. As manly as she was, caring but not showing it as a woman would, never wanting to be a burden, she was always ready to help. If she couldn’t help directly, she would help indirectly. At home she ran very fast from hard labour 😂, outsourcing as much as she could but when she couldn’t, she was thorough and my mom loved that about her work. She was everything her friends said and more and in her honour, we are starting a foundation in her name, to ensure that her good works flow from at least, one definite source. Oh I must repeat, she loved food, haha. Which is why there's lots to eat. Eat! It's a celebration of my her life. Adieu dear sister. Till we meet again.
When you begin with the end in mind, you gain a different perspective.
One man asked another on the death of a mutual friend, “How much did he leave?” His friend responded, “He left it all.”
The book.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn’t promised. - Galenkp.
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
To answer the #contest160 question, if I knew my death was imminent, I might fight to live on if I could, because I have not used up all the talents I was given, nor have I had the chance to multiply or invest them. I’d fight to live on because I know there are a lot of people waiting on me and my God-given talents. If I see that there is no fight, I would accept death gracefully knowing that perhaps, I got it all wrong. And make the most of it.
Thanks a lot for stopping by to read. Super grateful.
Until next time, xx.
