December 18, 2013

It’s indeed like one of those nights that I lay in bed for hours waiting for the slightest sign of sleep but to no avail. Usually, I experienced those sleepless nights when something is troubling my mind, otherwise by 9:00 pm, I call it off for the day.

And like those days, that time is no different either, because indeed, something was bothering ‘Yar Fulani a Turai, but the question is “what could that be?”

I know that’s what you are wondering too; could it be another nomadic encounter, could it be the cattle or what?

Keep guessing, I am sure you’re not going to get it right because even I don’t really know how best to describe the situation. Perhaps afterwards, you may help me figure out how.

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It all happened on a hot and dry day, typical Abuja weather during the harmattan period.

It used to be dry, cold and hazy down, core north during this period but here, it’s kind of hot, dry and a little bit windy at night.

Worse, there was no power; something we are pretty much used to in Nigeria. I put off the generator in anticipation that power will be back any moment; as it usually does around that time. I also opened the curtain to allow in some cold evening fresh air that was trying to calm the harshness of the day’s hot weather.

“I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another;” I remembered those words of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was the third President of the United States, and during his lifetime, he expressed strong opposition to slavery. Jefferson believes that man should always find happiness in doing good to others. How nice will it be to do something good for others, especially if you are not going to be paid in return?

John Wooden also said; “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

Since the news of the death of Nelson Mandela in 2013, there was nothing other than eulogies and testimonies of the good things the great Madiba has done. Days passed by, and even after being buried, the stories are still afresh.

He lived a selfless life and always wants the best for others. What a man to deserve all the kind compliments from billions of lips all over the world.

Indeed he has really touched so many lives, I must confess too, and even in death, I believe he still deserves all the respect….why? Because he was a man that lived and died for others, a good thing we all should emulate.

This made me think that it’s time to revisit my earlier question in the past write up, which I gave a title: “what are you doing for others?”

It’s time to find more answers that may inspire people to start caring for others, and it was precisely what kept me awake that night.

I don’t have a clue, so I started scribbling every word that comes to my mind. Before you knew it, sentences kept appearing on the notepad in front of me…

I respect the words of French novelist and playwright, Honoré de Balzac. Balzac said; “Someday you will find out that there is far more happiness in another’s happiness than in your own.”

I believe this is what real meaning of love for one another should be.

Late Mandela believed that if people can learn to hate, they can also be taught how to love. Because love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

Now the question I will pose to you is to determine how you can find your happiness in another person’s own happiness?

As you think about it, “let your conscience be your judge”, but I know it’s not an easy one.

Let’s connect in the next post, and I will tell you how others have done it, perhaps it might help you figure out how to do it even better.