Imagine if you had a thousand words left to speak in this life, and your last word would mean your last breath. What kind of things would you say; to your family, to your colleagues, to your superiors, to your younger ones, to that very annoying roommate, to that annoying salesperson, to everybody you came in contact with for that duration? Would you regret the words you “wasted”, or the things you said on empty stands, every lie you ever told, every empty talk you ever made? Would you learn to appreciate people more with your speech? Our words are our creation and every word has the ability to bring to bear not only our thoughts but also to form and transform the lives of the people around and about us. Part of being human is communication, but what exactly do we use this expressive ability to do. What do we actually say in our lifetime? Is our speech full of a lot of words (even sentences) that we feel do not have a lot of meaning attached to them, or do we keep saying things we always wish we can go back and change? Our expression is very essential in survival. Though we all have a different path in life, our paths are all together intertwined for the “ultimate purpose”. So in essence, our words can either make or mar people. Not necessarily oratory, but all together too; history tells of people who led wars and unified nations by words.

Stories from the Market...2

What do we do when we wish to come true, and really be in touch with our feelings, when we have decided that maybe we have been lying to ourselves and where we are is not exactly where we should be? The universe does have a sense of humour; sometimes we are the object of humour; when we are always trying to be who we are not and where we are not supposed to be, and sometimes what we wish for is not always what we are ready to stick with. Of course we are all fallible, and any tale of being careful so as not to make mistakes is a lie born out of ignorance. But if we could let ourselves pause and think sometimes....are they always worth it? All the anticipation, expectation, or even our fantasy wishes for or from life. I understand that it is hope that keeps every man going each day, but do we ever wonder if our ‘hope’ are sometimes misplaced, if we are going ten-thousand miles an hour in the wrong direction. Anticipation does get disappointed and most times we are torn apart when they do. Devastation as a word may not even be able to describe how we feel when it does happen, and our feelings (which, like every emotional perspective in the world, are relative) evolve, almost volcanically, and anger being a part of them doesn’t make matters better. The world is a rotating ball: agreed, but that doesn't justify us trying to run faster than the destiny we pursue. Things are not always in black and white, that is why there are roses and velvet.

Stories from the Market

"I can do everything.. but change". Those were his words, and as they sunk home (or at least tried to), it made me realize all the more to never let ignorance be an excuse for folly. To babes (in every sense of the word) the only thing they can afford to live for is change. Believe it or not their hope (if they be any), or their main fabric of existence is dependent on the fact that they will not be in the same position or stage they are now; either mentally, psychologically or physiologically. To them, the world keeps spinning because they believe in cycles, a chance to grow and experience; everything they have been told not to do and ones that are yet to come into existence, they are eager for consciousness and a mental awareness to be able to wait and expect eagerly for each day (like the adults before them), to take everything life brings to them each day with new energy and be surprised by those circumstances that take man unawares and sweep us all off our feets (figuratively speaking), and at least have a sense of purpose. It is this patience inspired by hope of things not yet seen but eagerly expected that keeps the world spinning round.So you crush dreams, possibilities and in essence lives when you say you "don't believe in change". But then again, to the gray its only thoughts of the good old days that is an inspiration to continue in this world when it looks like all energy have been spent and life has been fully lived albeit sometimes with regrets. Even the regrets and the 'what could have been' leave a sense of longing and longevity; they wish to pour on their wisdom (though mostly experience and life lessons, but wisdom all the same) to younger generations, whether related or not. The life they had before is the only life there is (at least so they think) and change is an uncomfortable circumstance that reminds them or tries to remind them that their life here is slowly drifting away and gradually coming to an end. What past life they had will be their only description of this world and an autobiography could be a means for them to reminisce on this life and show that (to them) there could certainly be nothing more. So to different people there are different means of expression but whether we like it or not, the world's rotation is inevitable, so we can chose to run with it or be in the same position; and let life meet us at "position zero".

Its a lovely weather here today in the western part of Africa. Speaking of...a lot of friends have this view that the weather in this part of the country is strange and always at extremes. The sun here is extremely "scorchy", almost so much that it doesn't take walking a long distance to have yourself and your shirt soaked in sweat. The temperature sometimes reaches about 35 to 40 degrees an hour before noon and the dryness in the atmosphere can all culminate into a very distressed day. The once very cool environment early in the morning turns to blazing rooms in noon and coupled with inconsistent supply of electricity, the whole surroundings makes you cast doubts on survival...albeit unnecessary and paranoia. On other occasions it rains cats and dogs and in a very unpredictable manner that the safest bet is to always carry an umbrella (or a rain coat). A bright warm morning can be very deceptive as one doesn't really know when a heavy downpour will suddenly be the weather of the city and your wet clothes will have a story to tell. This is also coupled with cold that comes from unrelenting breeze flooding through any open windows or doors, sometimes through cracks and holes around (at least that is how it seems). But today, like some days like it (even though they are a tad such times) the light evening showers succeeded in leaving everywhere cool and pleasant enough that life regained meaning(too deep?). The clouds formed shapes that though could not be interpreted, were beautiful. The light intensity was balanced and evening came upon us soon making me nostalgic of days prior to the advent of global warming. The trees were dark in their stands (towering high enough to scare infants) and their sways was a testimony that life is not always torrential. The air smelled fresh and it was easy to just sit on the balcony and take it all in without being conscious of time passing by. Some say these changes are because of global warming, and others believe that global warming is a topic for a conspiracy theory. Others believe the weather is normal and whenever it shifts or looks abnormal, it needs some time before it returns to stability. I am not really the kind for arguments, so trying to settle the cause for shifting weather conditions is more of a spectator sport from this stand point. The important hing is that sometimes its cold, sometimes its hot and other times, its just plainly peaceful. There is always no cause for alarm.