Many times, I wake up in the night and contemplate my existence in this world [I do ask, why am I here?]. Countless times, I have found reasons not to harbour malice against others. The best way to live a fulfilled life is to make a positive impact on the lives of others, no matter how small or big. It does not matter the size of the contribution; what counts is the intention behind it.
I have seen people go back on their promises, and I have witnessed God’s creatures annihilate their fellow human beings. I have observed people developing unnecessary egos and becoming irrationally arrogant because of worldly possessions. Every beginning must have an end, and every figure that starts with zero will end with something.
Can we just pause for a minute and ask ourselves a pertinent question? What am I truly doing in this world? What will happen to all the assets I have acquired, both legally and illegally? I do not know my great- great-grandfather, and mygreat-great-grandchildren may not know me. That is the irony of life. We accumulate everything, whether legally or illegally, only to leave it in the custody of people we don’t know.
Maybe human beings are simply wired not to think about the fact that they arrived with nothing and will leave with nothing. Let us just take a moment to consider: what will happen to our houses and cars in the next 100 years? Everything we hold dear today will eventually be in the hands of strangers we have never met. Our children may not be able to sustain the lifestyle we have created. They might not have the same luck or the same contacts that we have.
This is the irony of human existence. We come into this world with nothing, and we will leave with nothing. Our time here is limited, maybe 100 years, perhaps 150 at the very most. Eventually, our bodies will be consumed by maggots and termites. Before that day comes, we need to reassess our lives and reconsider our ways.
We should strive to make a meaningful difference in the world while we still have time. Perhaps our true purpose is not to accumulate wealth and possessions, but to foster love, kindness, and understanding. The legacy we leave should not be measured by what we owned, but by the positive impact we had on those around us. Let us use our limited time wisely, nurturing relationships and leaving the world a better place than we found it.
•Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
