It’s Eid, 2024. The weather outside is calm, slightly windy, and inside the living room, it’s dark. I’m lying down, surrounded by my thoughts and a few cherished possessions: The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus, Love Does Not Win Elections, a comic book, and a standing fan positioned nearby. The conversation I had with my aunt last night echoes in my mind. She urged me to leave the country for Europe. Initially, I laughed it off, but the idea planted itself in my thoughts, I have to start thinking about it.
She painted a picture of our country—one that appears to be functioning but is, in reality, a façade. People are hungry, angry, yet smiling. Her observation about the president’s fall, which was met with laughter by many Nigerians, struck a chord. If our country were truly thriving, she reasoned, such an event wouldn’t evoke such a reaction. We shared a smile, a silent acknowledgment of the absurdity of our situation.
Today is Eid, and instead of being in Maitama with friends, I chose solitude in the dimly lit living room, opting for a nap over socialising. I woke up to a love emoji from my friend who’s preparing to leave for another country. Her message reminded me of our conversation about her impending move from Saudi Arabia, about Arab men, Pakistani men and a bit about the Indians. We joked about the Scottish accent, how I love it after seeing Trainsporting and the last season of Sex Education. We discussed our adventures, and laughed. After the call, I texted another friend and shared some of Mary Oliver’s poetry with him or I did this before the conversation with my globe trotting friend. I can’t remember.
This brought back memories of the days when I couldn’t go without reading The Paris Review. I smiled, even though my neck rested uncomfortably on a book by Canton.
While these thinkings goes on in my head, the health tech problem we’re trying to solve looms in the background, a challenge I’m tackling with that my globe-trotting friend who works in the medical field. I need to do something about it tonight. I need to start a brainstorming session and need to create mood boards and…
Life can take on so many forms for us. It can be a bird soaring through the sky, a dolphin dancing in the ocean, a sequoia standing tall and timeless, or a book brimming with endless possibilities. Each moment holds a different potential, an opportunity for a new direction.
Indeed, life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here, we should dance. This sentiment resonates deeply today, a reminder to find joy in the present despite the uncertainties.
Afterthought
- I’ve been listening to a lot of evergreen Yoruba music lately. Its rhythms and melodies bring a sense of nostalgia and joy and a perfect companion for this reflective day. Join me, Faji Lawa—let’s celebrate the vibrancy of life through music.
- Currently, I’m reading Trading in the Zone by Mark Douglas. It’s an insightful guide on developing a robust psychological mindset for trading in the financial markets. Its lessons are applicable beyond trading, encouraging a disciplined and focused approach to any challenge. I have my challenge, in fact, I faced a major one lately. I have been laughing about it and I’ve learned from it.
As I lie here, contemplating the future and being in the present, I’m reminded of the endless possibilities life offers. Each decision, each moment, a step in the dance of life. Qué Sera sera.
Eid Mubarak!
