When We Stand on the Shoulders of Real-Life Giants
African proverb day 81
Today’s African proverb
A baby on its mother’s back does not know the way is long.
Even if it’s 1 mile or 10, the baby carried on the back has no concept of the distance travelled. For multiple reasons.
- There is no muscle ache, no labouring of breath, no sheen of sweats to remind the child of the effort being exerted.
- On the back, the baby does not have a clear view of the way. With vision limited, even if there were barriers being smashed, hills climbed, detours taken, or snakes trodden upon, the baby has no idea.
This proverb can be used in 2 different contexts.
To remind us to appreciate the effort of our mothers, fathers, guardians, or mentors.
A lot of ventures we embark on have likely been travailed and mapped out by another. Some new writers, creators, politicians, scientists or entrepreneurs who make massive leaps and bounds in short periods of time forget that someone led the way.
Someone walked an unbeaten path, followed by several others who trampled a trail onto a road. This trail was then likely paved by the effort of many others turning it into a highway for later…
