DOWN THE AGEING LANE

My friend, stop complaining about growing old. Everyday , all the time, na so so complain of getting old. Today you complain of backaches, tomorrow you talk of loss of balance and memory. You think say you still be young man? You can’t be young for ever, my friend, when you no be FOREVER PRODUCTS, abi you be?

 

I no be Obi but me I know the thing I dey talk about. I am the owner of my body and I know how it is doing me. Sometime the thing dey grab me for neck as if I wan suicide myself. At another time e be like say some wicked demons wan kpai me before my time.

 

What’s your time and who allocated it for you? Death get calendar? You had better becareful yourself or you just drop dead like that, like overripe paw paw, just like that!

 

it’s a lie! The ram’s pendulum can only be swinging, it will not fall. Eewo! E no possican’t. I say “ko le ja”. No way! I will not kpai! Uro! Urology! I no go die lai lai. For where?

 

Listen carefully. You will die whether you like it or not. All living things are subject to decay and death. As we grow old certain changes start taking place in our body and our “brain box” too. Your complaints of frequent aches and pains are indications of degeneration. It is part of the DECAY that first takes place before actual death. But no doctor will ever tell you your body is in the process of decay. They will rather use the term DEGENERATION to soothe your nerves and calm your brain. It is a natural turn around of the growing up and down business and it is nothing to be afraid or ashamed of. Growing older should be positively viewed as a privilege. There are many that did not have that divine privilege of growing old BUT we must pay a ‘price’.

 

Why? How much? Egole?

 

You can’t have your cake and eat it. Something has to give.

 

And what’s that?

 

You need to prepare fully for the days when you have to stop relying on others and survive on your own. Twenty children cannot play together for twenty years. One by one we shall all exit the world. No matter how young you are, one day you will be old too and, physically and emotionally, condemned into one sad corner of life. Friends, in drones, have gone. The children have left for their own homes or different parts of the world in search of greener pastures.

 

You mean say I no go get someone to take care of me?

 

Yes. In an empty nest situation where everybody has abandoned the homestead in search of better life, you are bound to have a feeling of loneliness. The thing is this, everybody has got their own life to live. The hardest realization about growing old is that the world moves on with or without you. You will not be the first to be so “abandoned”.

 

The thing be like Father Time wey no get time for anybody. If you no move with am he go move on without you. Abi no be so?

 

You are right. Old age is the harbinger of loneliness which is the heaviest burden any old man can carry. It is not only in physical terms but also in emotional terms. So be prepared like the Boy Scout Movement.

 

It means I go save money for the time, make I enjoy myself well, well for old age.

 

You are missing the point. Wealth does not mean anything in old age. Health is it! ILERA LORO. Health is wealth. Good health is more valuable than wealth. You can be as rich as the Central Bank, without good health you can’t enjoy life. Material things become meaningless. You may own planes, ships, yachts and bullet trains, without good health you can remain still and motionless in the same place until the Second Coming.

 

Dem don talk am say all this rush rush for money and property na vanity, Abi no be so dem talk am?

 

Na so life be. Old age can render one physically useless. The things you used to do by yourself before like bathing, eating, writing, walking, dancing, virtually everything, you can’t do again. You will need help for almost everything. How have the mighty fallen!

 

Na lie! Me I no fall. For where? I don’t need any help to sleep. They can do everything for me but nobody can sleep for me or on my behalf when I no be woman. I am a man. No care giver or anybody, for that matter, can help me sleep my sleep. If they help me sleep, will they help me dream my dream?

 

You are not serious. You are talking like this because you are still conscious. The day you lose your independence to fend for yourself you will realise how really valuable independence is in your life. Be prepared.

 

How man fit be happy inside this?

 

Not to worry. Before the descent to the abyss of depression try to mitigate its impact while still conscious to do so. True happiness comes from doing simple things. Learn to be cheerful. Banish worries from your mind…

 

True talk. WHY WORRY, THE BARBER don talk am before, say, “why worry? If you worry, you go die. If you no worry, you go die. So why worry?

 

You got it! Be worryless. Bear no grudges. Learn to forgive. Forgiveness, they say, brings peace of mind because people who hold on to old grudges and bitterness are the ones who suffer most.

 

Why?

 

A heavy heart burdens only those who carry it. Bitterness is a burden too heavy for an old man to carry on his weak RGAN. Learn to forgive. Peace is worth more than pride. Or you will just drop dead one day despite being seen as strong and healthy the day or moment before.

 

Tell me more.

 

Ageing is not about how many more years to go but how well you manage the present…

 

Sure?

 

Sure, and leave the rest to the giver and taker of life. He alone produces, publishes and manages the Calendar of Life. Sounds morbid?

 

Wetin be Mobil for inside this? Me I no know book o! Wallahi Tallahi!!