WHAT NOW? WHAT NEXT?(Part 2)
Finding Hope Amid Life's Unknowns
Read Part 1 of this series here. Trust me, you don't want to miss the beginning that set the stage for this incredible series of What Now? What Next? That made Part 1 an Unforgettable journey.
Where am I supposed to go from here? (Of course, I know the destination is home ). Eminem, the OG attempts to answer this puzzling question in his song Higher. And the stellar response that he gave was, "Really, I have no idea." As ridiculous as it may sound that's the case for most of us as we stand at the crossroads of uncertainty. Almost everyone that I reached out to didn't have a solid plan for the next step. The great thing is that they all portrayed a high level of optimism. They all had hope that the universe would conspire for them, armed with inspiring lines from Bob Marley's song "Three Little Birds"
Don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing is gonna be alright
Which I agree with. There’s no point worrying about things that you cannot control because your life will pave a path no matter what. Worrying is a waste of time. I must confess these words are easy to pen but the reality proves far more complex. We are innately worriers. As human beings, we have to worry. We can't escape from it. Constantly worrying about my next step made me not concentrate on the here and the now, instead it me depressed about the future which I have no control over. Currently, I feel in charge. And in this sequel of What Now? What Next? I will leave you with some Solomonic thoughts to mull over which I hopefully believe might help alleviate/ battle these delibating thoughts on facing the next step.
Taking One Step at a Time:
Just like Jordin Sparks, I have decided to take it one step at a time. Her words resonate:
You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
(No one knows your name yet)
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face, and the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated (Frustrated)
And you're getting all kind of impatient (Impatient)
Waitin' (Waitin')
We live and we learn
To take one step at a time
There's no need to rush
It's like learning to fly
Or falling in love (Just falling in love)
It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen
Then we find the reasons why
One step at a time
You believe and you doubt
You're confused
And got it all figured out
Everything that you always wished for
Could be yours, should be yours, would be yours
If they only knew
I don't want to sound like those preachers of prosperity gospel cause If you follow them blindly, you will be deluded. The bitter reality is that we don't have a manual for this next step.
And the best that we can do is hope that the stars will align sooner or later. Yatajipa insha'Allah. At the end of the day, we have to take action, or else the brutal Matthew principle will take effect: to those who have everything, more will be given, and from those who have nothing, everything will be taken.
Simply put: Nothing will come of nothing. The goal is to do the most that you can with whatever thing that you have at your disposal. You can take very small steps even ones that may be shameful in their size. The small steps can be something as simple as spending a few minutes to update your résumé or CV.
In the wise words of great Jim Rohn: life was not designed to give us what we need. Life was designed to give us what we deserve. Like a farmer reaping a harvest, our efforts determine our outcomes. A farmer doesn't reap a harvest because he needs it. He reaps the harvest because he deserves it. Basic laws and principles that have served you since you were a teen remain steadfast. Laws that simply state that if you wish to reap you must plant. Remember you eat what you kill. Some interesting biblical phrases that say if you keep knocking the doors will open. Implying that doors of opportunity are opened to those who continually knock. Seek and you shall find and the list continues....
Your comparison group is incorrect
I know it's inevitable to compare. But as cliche as it might sound do not compare yourself with others. Comparing ourselves to others steals the joy of our unique journey. Ignore all that noise and focus on yourself. Build your life on your timeline and don't compare yourself to everyone your age on social media because that's just the highlight. Your friends will humblebrag about their new job but they won't show you the pressure that comes with beating deadlines and more. People will show you the glamorous side of their lives but they won't show you the other things behind the scenes on how all this happens. Instead, the most proper comparison group is who you were yesterday. You are the only control group that's appropriate to you because you have a certain set of talents, possibilities, and limitations that are truly unique to you and so you might be comparing yourself to someone else on some dimension but it's not a reasonable comparison because you don't know what talents they were blessed with and you also don't know what opportunities they had that you didn't. So in this next step, remember to run your race and stay in your lane.
Your Core Values Define Who You Are:
In this next step, we will have to battle one of life's deadliest forces: Peer pressure. The pressure to make it or as you wish kuomoka and getting out of the block will be intense. This is the point where you say the end justifies the means and you engage in all unscrupulous means in the name of chasing the bag. I would challenge you to risk staying true to yourself. Being true to your values and beliefs even when it's tough is like having a campus that guides you through life's journey. It's the key to landing a genuinely satisfying and meaningful life.
Your values are the Northstar that keeps you on course. No matter how strong the winds or high the waves, they show you the way. No matter how tough it gets, never let go of your values. Let no EACC and DCI be the only people who are keeping you from doing a clean job.
Never stop learning cause life never stops teaching
Many live with this idea that you know exactly what needs to happen and success is a linear journey from where you are. I am sorry but that's hilarious. Only a fool knows that there's only one way to make it in this life. I will urge you to try a bunch of different things which will help you figure out what you like and it's going to give you a sense of purpose. Throughout the process, you will collect a bunch of different skills that you'll put under your belt. Some you'll use and some you won't. If you find whatever interests you, purpose to get good at it. Learn as much as you can about it.
Lastly, I don't know about you. But for me, I see finishing campus as the first step towards following a path that truly belongs to me. I am opening a door to new exciting rooms. Rooms that are filled with opportunities and fresh experiences. It can be a little scary like stepping into the dark woods without a clear path. But it's also a chance to go on this great voyage. I choose to face it with boldness and there's no timid approach to life. I also choose to treat life like a strategic game of chess. I move one piece at a time and see what life does. How does life respond to my move? Along the way, I will keep my eyes on the board of life and make adjustments to my strategy as life moves on its turn.
One thing that kinda makes me excited about this next step, is that I picture life as a puzzle.
I believe I don't have it all figured out, which is why I think it's time to level up and go search for the missing piece somewhere else. Life, much like a puzzle, holds pieces of understanding and experience scattered throughout various places and encounters. Embracing the unknown and seeking those missing pieces in different realms is the essence of growth and discovery. It's a journey that goes beyond the confines of our current understanding, urging us to explore and evolve. I am confident that each new piece brings me closer to a more fulfilling picture.
To sum it all up, I will leave you the video below 👇🏾(Dan Lok-Source: Youtube)
In the meantime, I gotta organize my suitcase and bid farewell to this place, you know, getting ready for the epic adventure of urban-to-rural migration. Going back to the village if you like. But wait, what about my campus relationship with my "mpoa"? How are we gonna handle this long-distance saga, especially with no WiFi( eduroam) in the village? I hope she gonna get my smoke signals and our love story will survive the ultimate test of time…
Merry Christmas to you all.
Live and let live
Adiós
I'll be honest the art in this piece of work is just fascinating. Its a combination of education, humour and everything else needed in an good article...keep up with the good work. Writing might just be your "what next" move... Either way I'll be right behind you. Cheers 🥂. And congrats on the academic completion.(in advance.)