The tree and the wind: The reality.

“If the tree does not know how to dance, the wind will teach it”.

African Proverb

The above quote is an African Proverb I heard from a friend some days ago. We were both sitting outside that morning as I was trying to get something done for him. He started reading aloud some beautiful quotes from Twitter and I was also tagging along by explaining what it means. When he said that quote, he brought out a wonderful explanation from it and we closed the discussion for the day.

I watched a movie last night titled “Breaded Life” and in the process, that quote came to my mind I was like “Yes, this movie resonates so well with it” and I decided to write about it.

My friend explained that a tree that doesn't know how to dance, when the wind blows over it, will dance. This means that humans are like the tree while circumstances are the wind.

Many people have solely depended on people to help them, especially those who come from rich homes. They see nothing wrong in taking responsibility because they have someone who will always be there for them. They don't want to work or find something to do with their lives. They believe their family members would find work or keep helping them, but the day unexpected circumstances show and they are left with nobody, they will realize the reality and would be forced to find something to survive with.

In this movie, this young boy came from a rich home and was exhibiting juvenile delinquency. The mother had two children. The first daughter was married and stayed overseas while this boy was just misbehaving, depending on his father's property. The mother gave them equal rights and did her best to nurture her children. She, at first thought the boy was switched from birth or he fell off while still a toddler as she was just so confused about where he got such behaviour from.

When his father died, he left a trust fund for him but would be able to access it when he clocks 32 years.

He stopped going to school because he wasn't interested in the courses his mother chose for him. When he was asked why? he said the first course was too hard, the second was boring and the third, he didn't like. He just wants to enjoy his life.

His mother asked what his plan was since he wasn't ready to go to school again. He said he doesn't have any plan except for the trust fund left for him. He is 25 years old. What will he be doing with his life before 32? That's like seven good years in between.

He angrily moved out of the house one day and had an accident. That was the beginning of his unexpected life.

He was in a coma for 18 days but he had a dream which lasted for five years, 3 months and 18 days.

In his dream, everyone including his family and friends denied knowing him. When he saw that he was left alone in the world, he went out into the street to help himself survive. A bread seller who used to come to sell bread for their security man was the one who housed him. He was forced to ask the lady to help him with any job.

He went into the street, doing all the menial jobs. Though everyone liked him and he was used to such a life. The bread seller took care of him and helped him in the dream.

Life took him to where he never expected. In the dream, he had opened his eyes to reality when he woke up from his coma.

The boy is just like the tree that doesn't know how to dance while the wind was the unexpected situations and challenges he faced to become who he was in the end. He never thought something like that would happen to him.

Many of us are like this young boy. We think life will always be good because we are surrounded by those who would help us. I pity those, especially from rich homes who think their parents would leave them some property and because of that, will not do anything. They don't want to understand there is more to life than the opportunity you have which you don't value.

There will be a time when the opportunity and chance you never value would slip from your hand when you never expected and you will be forced to find a solution just to keep surviving.

“If you do not move from where you are, thinking you are comfortable where you are, life (wind) will move you when you are hit with different challenges”.

Just because your siblings are doing fine with their lives doesn't mean you should rely and depend on them.

My big sister would always tell us that we should never think because she is doing fine, we will not be serious with our lives. If we don't take our lives seriously, she will ignore us completely.

You don't have anything to do. You don't have any plans because you have trusted that the property left in your name is intact, it will shock you that one day, something can just happen and you will be alone in the world. By then, you will realize you have nothing and the only thing will be what you can do and the skill you have.

This young boy was busy squandering his money on parties and never planned anything for himself until life taught him a great lesson. He went in search of any work to do just to feed him daily.

Don't live your life thinking there is someone you rely on for the future. Death may take such a person or something can just happen. Find something to do with your life. Be responsible and get prepared for anything that may happen because this life itself is unpredictable.

Many things can go wrong in just a day and you will be shocked at how it happened.

Thanks for reading

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[June 30, 2022] (No 181 articles for the year)