Hi friend, it is elementary knowledge that life would not be a smooth-sail all through. When the patchy times roll by, remember this...
I got the 10th day of July off work. Getting a rare break from work was received with a fist pump. It was a Friday, during the rainy season in Southern Nigeria and as I carefully worked out a schedule to maximize my “long break”, my mobile phone rang; it was my best friend, Happiness, calling. Like me, she viewed the break as an opportunity to spend time with loved ones, especially with those she had fond memories of and believed strongly she had etched her mark in their hearts. Happiness’ tenderness is immeasurable and comparable to none. She represents the saintly hallmark of altruism. She has given so much to our friendship, she’s been there for all around me and I have only been able to offer just a little in return. As I answered her call, I felt her running through my marrows. It is needless to say “I love her”; hiding that feeling is like trying to whistle and sip a glass of Hennessey simultaneously without the former getting in the way of the latter. I promised to see her come Saturday, with the aim of conquering the coyness in me and telling her how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
As I glided down through the stairs hoping to catch a cab in time to see the much-anticipated Wimbledon semi-final clash between home-favourite Andy Murray and the evergreen, Roger Federer, I ran into the much-maligned “Sadness”; he was the biggest rival of my beloved Happiness. He is always the talk of the town and would persistently hurt Happiness’ hosts; I therefore thought I had the perfect understanding of my running into him. I swore not to give him a chance. But that day, surprisingly, he was smiling, he was bearing a gift and was without his sword with which he pierces hearts, leaving scars. He offered me the gift which he promised was from my friend, Happiness. I reluctantly accepted it and told him “gerrarahere”. I tore through the pack, knowing the situation was bewildering but I waived it. She had sent a “Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II”. I grinned. I was elated.
I altered my plans. I decided to surprise Happiness by bringing the people she had spent so much time with to “Amor” where I would propose to her the next day. I visited Paul to invite him over. I could not tell Paul of my intent to propose to Happiness because he was reeling from a loss. He had fought Sadness and had been left with a deep cut. That was all he talked about. I wanted to tell him of how good a healer Happiness is but he would not let me. I sought to remind him of all the good times she had brought us through the years but Paul’s spirit was broken. I had to leave.
I visited 30 other friends but they all talked about Sadness as well as the scars he had left on them or their loved ones and would not even remember what Happiness had brought them in the past. I walked home dejected. Happiness was waiting at my door. She was crying. I had never seen her cry. IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I took her in my arms and dried her tears. I told her I wanted her to stay forever. She spoke up thereafter, telling me she had my Rolex bugged and having listened to my conversations with our mutual friends, she became heartbroken knowing her friends would not even remember all the wonderful times they had together, that she had come to me because she felt I am different. She reminded me of the good times but I was enraged. I asked, continuously, why she had bugged a supposed gift. I pushed her out of my arms. I felt she had breached our trust and I could barely remember the good times. I felt they never mattered again. And as she walked away, I saw Sadness smiling; he told me he had carved a scar in me without a sword. I felt deeply hurt. As Happiness walked away, she said some words which I would love to share with you. She told me that her deepest regret is that unlike Sadness, she leaves no scars and as a result, in times of conflict, she is rarely remembered; that we tend to remember our scars and not the sensations we felt when we were with her; that it is only a friend that betrays; that it is only a loved one that hurts; that in times of adversity, I should learn to remember prosperity and see beyond today.
My friend, you should know that we have all chased happiness away at one time or the other but she is very persistent, she would not give up on us and she is forgiving. She has refused to stay with me forever but she is disposed to visiting frequently subject to my convenience.
Even though she leaves no scars, remember the good times and usher her in. And as I go, I leave you with the words of Groucho Marx:
“I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I am going to be happy...”
No comments:
Post a Comment