I enjoy storytelling, it has the ability to bridge the known and unknown gap along your resonate memory; building a lego of thoughts perfectly synced together to break down abstract concepts. If you guessed that I have a story to tell, then you guessed right.
I was reading the seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey and he explains the difference between the circle of concern (things you constantly worry about) and the circle of influence (things you can actually do something about). A lot of young people, including myself, find it hard to bridge the gap between these two terms.
This is where my story comes in, however, it’s your story.
Trenches or Upstate, regardless of the environment in which you were bred; a constant part of your end of term portfolio were three documents: (1) your exam results, (2) a list of books for next term and (3) the updated school fees. The concern of every student at this point is school fees and we would constantly clamor about this during the holidays, stating why we would be sent out of class if payments were not made. That is your concern.
Your parents on the other hand understood that the school fees could be paid even on the third week after resumption and decided to focus on the major issues at hand. The books, shoes, underwear (G.A.P, if your mum was like my mum), socks and the basic necessities. These are the items that you need from day 1 and the absence of the items would influence you starting the term on a strong note.
Are you with me?
Along the line of our careers or even education, we are focused on the end result (concern) so much that we fail to fully utilize the purpose of our current situation (influence). The intern is too bothered about when he would become a department head that he fails to understand the purpose of his internship as a building block to career success. We fail to live in the moment because we worry too much about the future, hence losing sight of positive growth - failing to wield your circle of influence effectively.
You would agree with me that if the school fees were paid ahead of resumption and stationaries were delayed till third week, the child would have a hard time blending in. I mean, what’s the purpose of paying fees without having books to take down knowledge or a pen to write assignments?
I believe you get the picture, the future is staying till you meet it, unless you’re Barry Allen and decide to move ahead quicker. Until then, put in the best of your effort into the now so when you meet the future, you’re prepared to shine. Else you’d have fees paid but no books to read.
Yours creatively
Abiodun Aguda.
P.S I started a podcast with my friends and you would love it, click to listen: