since the last time Tunde and I had a serious conversation, I've had it so uneasy to answer that question. I've gone through a lot in this life. I'm quite young, or at least, people say I look young than my age. Within the twenty four years of my life, I've had a couple of experiences. I've laughed and cried. I've been happy and as well sad. But lately, one thing really has remained so poignant in my mind. what really motivates me?
No doubt about the experience. It's been an admixture of joy and pain. At a time, I've felt on top of the world. Maybe when I got the money for my laptop. I finally heaved a sign of victory (not relief) since I can now do so many stuffs on it, I thought. I could write those essays! I could do this and that! But the joy soon became pain since the internet connection doesn't come out cheap after the University.
I'm quite ambitious but not so very. Maybe after my last encounter with Tunde. I'm at a fix although still reflecting on it everyday. I've always taken cognisance of my environment. I'm highly sensitive to what I see and make sure to see how much I can learn from the situation around. Have you ever taken a long walk on the street of lagos? with the dust which you are confined to, and the opulence all around you? Then I got thinking.
But that could be wrong though most especially when you get your mind on based on making money. However, I know truly that there are some other things that could motivate. What about joy, happiness, fulfillment, that inward feeling that comes with doing something right!
Mallam Aliu really preached that to me on saturday. It's so outstanding because he didn't say it. He acted it out. Tunde had always talked about relationship and why he patronises this young man. He's a hausa man, who speaks hausa and pidgin english although not fluently. He could have gone ahead to beg on the bustling street of Lagos Island, but he'd rather earn the money by shining your shoes. You need to see the expression on his face anytime he knocks to get those shoes. That expression of satisfaction and fulfilment in what he does do not only end at showing courtesy. It extends to the alacrity with which he polishes and shines the shoes and joy with which he gets to deliver the shoes back to you with satisfaction of job well done.
I want to be a successful man, but I still ponder if the success is not primarily if not wholly hinged on how much money I make.
