Even at the risk of exposing myself somewhat, I will put pride aside and tell this story. I believe some of you may have at some time in your lives found yourselves in that place where to find two naira notes to rub together was almost like asking the impossible. That dire very financial state where the most basic of needs gradually become a luxury.
Unfortunately, like most human conditions, stay long enough in it and it quickly becomes the norm. You become accustomed to it. I once found myself in such a situation where little things in the house had fallen into varying degrees of disrepair, urgently needing replacement; but because there were many major things that also required my attention and were just beyond my reach financially, these little things just seemed inconsequential. Some of such little things were the light bulbs that had blown. Anybody who has known me for some time would attest that I’m a stickler for everything working as it should. Not this time. I became accustomed to having my evening shower with the bathroom door slightly ajar. I had to, so the bedroom light could afford me some visibility as the bathroom bulb had blown since! By the time I eventually changed it, the next time I wanted to use the bathroom I hesitated to switch it on. “Will people passing outside not see me through the flimsy bathroom curtains?” I thought. I quickly checked myself by asking rhetorically, “did I not used to switch the light on before? Why am I thinking like an illiterate?” I’ve discovered that one can surprisingly quickly become accustomed to substandard things and once you do, your whole thinking changes.
Many of us have become accustomed to substandard behaviour; bad character traits that have crept into our society over time. Let’s not pass this down to our children. Let us teach them why treating others with respect and consideration (Manners) will ultimately benefit them and the society they live in; why it’s good to do the honest thing even when no-one is watching (Integrity); the benefits of showing love to others without expecting anything in return (Neighbourly love); why it’s important they do the right thing always (Discipline) and last but not least, what true prosperity means (Success). True Success can be better termed as Good Success. Permit me to break this down a little. Each of us represents just one small jigsaw piece in the big jigsaw puzzle called life. Good Success is inextricably linked to us correctly fitting into the right slot in this big puzzle which of course is much bigger than any of us. “Success” of which you are the sole beneficiary is not the same as Good Success, just as a jigsaw piece that remains on its own doesn’t fulfill its purpose.
The values and ideals mentioned above; Manners, Integrity, Neighbourly love, Discipline and a more common good approach to Success, spell M.I.N.D.S. and incidentally, societal change can only begin from the mind. So I challenge you, let’s start it now.
Changing the nation…one mind at a time.
Dapo Akande
