I often wake up to chirpy birds and a beautiful garden in my house where thoughts of gorgeousness occupy my brain. I sit in a stretch garden chair with a magazine in a rack and a coffee table by my side and read the latest variety fair, browse through vogue and catch up on five Nigeria newspapers. I sip from a five year old mug, worn and dark on the inside with tea; but it is my personal mug, close to me which I see every day and I am unable to drink tea from any other.
I nibble on crackers and bite into an apple, half an orange and cubes of pawpaw. This is certainly the life. I am living my life by my own terms. I am an eternal optimist. It may not always be as rosy as I have painted it in the previous paragraph but I generally create a haven wherever I find myself. It’s the answer to naysayers and mean people, it’s the answer to tough times and overwhelming challenges, it’s the answer to bad people and Ndi sim sim (gossips in ibo).
This philosophy of mine has always worked for me, although there are times when the vicissitudes of life drive me to despair. Still, I persevere under all circumstances. We are human after all and there is no fool proof escape from challenges. Everyone has their fair share and they have seasons. There are times when you are problem free for may be a month then for six months afterwards you battle a near consuming fire. If you conquer it, you enjoy relative calm for another year, if you are lucky before you start a new battle again. In other situations you go through several layers of fire and multiple challenges. During such times you think it’s the end. It’s what has been allocated to all human beings. It’s in our stars and it is how we handle them that ultimately matters. Do not be deceived by the rich and the mighty, the money they have often cannot solve their gargantuan problems. A lot of wealthy people live in a cocoon, masking their pain and acting like all is well. It is shared humanity but we are also lucky that there is community. Very few nations in modern times typify community like Nigeria. Food in an uncle’s house is taken for granted. In spite of poverty we still continue to be generous.
It is this generosity that sometimes gets us into trouble. Rewind to the Liberian called sawyer. He arrived Nigeria full of Ebola toxins and knowingly infected all contacts on land and in the air driving us to desperation in the middle of our myriad of challenges. Our community loved him at the airport, pitied him, hugged him, gave him water as he slumped and got sick at the airport. Some have died, others fell ill, and others still ran away in befuddlement. He threw the nation into disarray. I have cried for Doctor Adadevoh and all like her who were just doing their job; a fine doctor with impeccable pedigree. My heart goes out to her family. I have cried for the latest cases. Yet, I am still an eternal optimist; for this too shall pass.
I salute the courage of health minister, my brother, Professor Onyebuchi who along with his team confronted Ebola headlong and have almost brought it to a screeching halt. The pro-activeness of the health ministry under the minister of health is exemplary. Information, an Ebola committee, health checks at our numerous borders has helped to curtail this rampaging disease. Add this to the co-operation of Nigerians; we have fought as a community. This is what we must do at all times in the face of a crisis and even in consolidating our successes.
Always Nigeria brings a smile to my face in the middle of a challenge. Is it our comedians who crack us all up or our musician who always have a danceable tune for us no matter the dark clouds? Take a look at the falconets and how much joy they brought to all Nigerians. That they sailed to the finals meant so much to so many people. I studied psychology in school and I am guidance and counselling proficient. There might have been those who wanted to take their life on the day our girls qualified and postponed the use of the noose. After the final match with many near misses, they still were joyful that we made it this far and have temporarily forgotten the reason for their dark mood. We loved the falconets because they represented every one of us, our hope, our joy and aspiration, our doggedness, community spirit and our unstoppable attitude.
I am an eternal optimist in spite of the many bitter things thrown at me. Throw me knives and I will build a house of spikes. I am an eternal optimist, what else can I be. I work hard and I laugh hard. I am a Nigerian who happens to be a child of God. I urge you to believe in yourself. Enough said!
It’s never the end until it ends.
Eugenia Abu
