You Are Not Too Late

2019 began like a minute ago! And boy are we headed to the start of another decade! I don’t know how your 2019 has been going but I know what one thing for sure; that you being able to read these words is proof that you are alive and that whatever you have set to achieve is still possible.

The world seems to be running like crazy. People are busier than ever. Social media is abuzz with a zillion trend I’m still trying to catch up. Folks seem to be living their best lives and you wonder when you can also be listed on Forbes Under 30! You visit LinkedIn and everyone is graduating in the so-called big fields- from Bachelors’ to PhDs’ and what’s more, they are landing their dream jobs. We could spend donkey years drawing from these contrasts.

So, this is for you who feels 2019 is fading out and you are still unemployed. It is for you who attended every relationship seminar this year and still has no one to ask,’ Babe, I just thought of you and I want to say I love you’. This is for you whose rejection letters could make a wallpaper for a room. This is for you whose business pitch is ‘not good enough’. This is for you who longs for children but ectopic pregnancy has become your middle name. This is for you, who feels you are so behind because another year is flying past.

Anytime I visit the market, I’m reminded of how there’s more than enough room for everyone to receive their blessing. In a typical Ghanaian market, you will find various aisles or what we normally refer to as ‘adwosuo’- the section where you are likely to find different shops or stands selling similar goods. You will find the same products assembled, with different attractions but each trader would have his/her customer ready to make a purchase! Of course, their profits will vary but none goes home empty-handed! That’s one beauty of life. We all carry a plethora of gifts, abilities and many more we sell to the world and irrespective of the various routes we will take, so long as we don’t get swayed by distractions and keep moving, we will certainly arrive home, full.

The old adage says that procrastination is the thief of time and it goes without saying that comparison is the thief of joy. We can become so focused on the big things that we hardly have the luxury of time to pause and be grateful for the little things. We get caught up in deadlines and become so hard on ourselves when we don’t get to the mark we have envisaged for ourselves but it’s not too late to loosen up.

In July 2019, I completed my National Service and there were no prospects of permanent employment as we had been made aware. However, I had begun applying for work and grad school at the same time because I couldn’t bear the thought of being idle after the internship but towards the completion of my service, I had to do some deep reflections on the whys of some of my decisions. I had to remind myself again about why I wanted to achieve these aims. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with having goals and chasing after them but quite often we burn way too many bridges, resort to many shortcuts  and miss out on the true joy of arriving well!

I no longer want to pursue grad school because I’ll be turning 27 God willing next year and most of my peers might have neared or started with their Masters’ and PhDs’. I want to do so because it’s a step towards building my career. I took a break from applying for jobs because my why was, ‘ Oh my friends have started businesses and oh look at that one, she got that job without a sweat’. In the past month, I have written an aptitude test, attended some interviews but I no longer heave a sigh of desperation when the outcome isn’t positive. I don’t believe that’s having a mediocre outlook but realizing that life happens in bits and it’s ok to experience these breaks.

So while life throws lemons at you, keep making lemonades. I passed a test recently and I celebrated. I wrote an article for a reputable firm which was published some months ago. I would have purchased it for Ghc100 but by virtue of writing the article, I received two free copies! I visited my dad recently and showed it to him. I have since resolved to keep going, no matter how slow the pace gets and not allow other people’s timeframes press me.

 Don’t stress about achieving the big stuff. Take joy in the’ mundane’ things too. Maybe you might think to teach Sunday School is nothing compared to being a lecturer or some big motivational speaker. Maybe you feel that small business you’ve been working on isn’t seeing the light of day. Maybe you feel that feel babysitting is just a waste of time. But can I just say, that you are doing well for yourself? All these things you call ‘nothing’ are all culminating into something great. Have you thought about it as a period which is shaping your character or perhaps teaching you something valuable? Do not underestimate each step you take, you will surely finish well! Like me, even if it was one article which was published in the entire year, go ahead and rejoice.

Here’s one for you to encourage you to keep going! Fall six times but make sure, you rise on the seventh! And while you are at it, don’t forget to walk with God because all who walk with Him reach their destination!