Life's Complexity

I may have underrated life. I hope she forgives me!

My sister and I have bonded so much over the last couple of months, and one of the things we share often that has helped our love grow this much is the many conversations reminding ourselves of the things we did while we were growing up as kids, then teenagers. Thanks to NEPA, on most days, there is no light, so we stay up giggling and sometimes shedding a tear or two. It’s funny how a lot of those things now seem and sound silly to us; however, at the time we did them, we were too convinced that we were doing what was best for us and nobody could tell us otherwise.

Besides the fact that I’m basking in the heightened level of love I now share with my sister, I’m also learning that life is complex, a lot more divergent from the straight route I have assigned it all my life.

1+2 does not always give 3, and because a person did X and Y to get Z does not necessarily mean that X and Y will always give you Z.

I could give so many examples - from an intense scenario of how I thought I’d be married to the boy I was head over heels for at 16 (we don’t talk anymore by the way) to silly ones like how addicted I was to Facebook at some point I’d walk back home because I had spent my transport money back from JAMB lessons on data (incase you’re asking, it was a really far distance). Who would have thought that just a few years later, I wouldn’t even have the app on my phone! Or is it about how perfect I tried to be, I never allowed anyone to see me make mistakes or even get the impression that I ever made mistakes?

The list is long, but my point is, I’m learning that life is an endless cycle of growth, and it’s rather stunting and short-sighted to conclude at any point that you have now figured life out. It may feel uncertain, and because we like to have everything figured out, it disarms us, because we no longer feel like we have things under control, but I guess that’s the beauty of it. The amazement of looking back to realize how much things have changed over the years, and how unexpected turns of events led to the most interesting results.

Now, I look forward to looking back at this age when I’m 40 and laughing at this me with my sister. (I’ll be sure to give you the gist then)

With love,

Hembafan from MANI