Valentine Ogaga.
The family remains a single integral entity that determines the emotional status of her members, ranging from the father down to the least of the children hence; it is of utmost importance to maintain the sanctity of the minds of everyone in this enclave. Over time, the society is constantly being fed with the influx of deviants with a minute addition of great and bright minds on a ratio of 93:7 which is a cause for alarm if indeed the nation is to meet up in her level of productivity and compete effectively amongst committee of nations in the world.
This readily brings us to the subject of discourse, which is maintaining the emotional well-being of a person in order to ensure that he/she maximizes the potentials inherent within, and that the person escapes from becoming a victim of dictates of a society ranging from religious points of views or even pre-existing laws determined by the seemingly powerful who have wielded their selfish and myopic interests to the detriment of a larger society. The need for procreation, fulfilling parental and societal norms are major reasons why people go further to tie the knot whilst not even considering nor envisaging the longer term which in most cases begins with a tickle of actions and reactions that when not immediately fenced in time, blossoms into a full scale retardation mood resulting in pitiable and regrettable stories e.g. Udeme’s case, and Maryam Sanda’s (couples maiming their spouses). The first thing to do in such circumstances would be to seek spiritual counsel from the Holy Book, be it the Bible or the Koran and then fully meditate on it, in silence to hear from God either through dream revelations or promptings in the mind. However, after being tested and verified by the person that such leads are real, then proceed to execute either passively or actively as your temperament carries you since every creature on the surface of the earth is unique.
The execution of a well-revealed understanding meant to illuminate the mind, body, and soul usually comes under grievous attacks when it seems not conform with the general perception of a group. This is where the individual seeking for freedom of his caged mind readily needs to make that stand that will ensure his/her freedom. The case of great minds like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Oprah Winfrey, Beethoven, Mike Murdoch amongst several out there who in spite of their matrimonial and parental setbacks still went farther to inscribe their names in the sands of time and remain forever celebrated from generations to generations are all there as proofs. All that needs to be done is to make that bold decision that will set you free and propel you from that enclave to a social mogul, where the world will come to your rising. This is the kind of freedom that should be advocated for both the man and the woman; this is the kind of freedom that should be advocated for the children; this is the kind of freedom Steve Jobs advocated for his co-staff and Apple became the first Trillion dollar company in the world, seven years after his demise!
A nation like Nigeria, bedeviled by the penchant for making quick and fast money as evidenced in young men involving in all forms of fraud, to the women who continually mount unending pressures on their spouses to conform to their own dictates, even down to the extended families wanting to export their disjointed thoughts leaves the individual as a victim. But there must be a re-orientation of everyone, be you man or woman; child or adult that you have a responsibility to become the best of you and nobody will listen to that flimsy excuse of who might have been responsible for your present sorry state except you remain an “exception” by breaking away from those norms that keep you tied! Be it a man or woman, that is suffering an abuse of any sought, he/she is advised to breakaway and in turn be an agent of the free and egalitarian entity rather than remaining there and hoping for the change that will never come. A popular tale relates the story of three lepers at the gate of a city undergoing severe starvation until they decided to go into the camp of their enemies to seek for food. To their surprise, they met a deserted camp, with not only food but precious jewelry and even had to spread the news to their nation because the food was in abundance.
The only thing that can bring you to that place of fulfillment is how passionate you are to the dreams and visions burning in your soul. It will constantly remind you that you have a date with destiny, your dreams and visions will make you leave that comfortable place if far from your heart yearnings; that burning dream and vision will make you turn deaf ears to you critics and loved ones who will only celebrate you when you come out heads high! Then, when an individual comes to that crossing, it is realized that life is a bargaining ground where one trades for happiness or sadness, wealth or poverty, good health or sickness. It is high time, you stood up and effect that change that the world is waiting and eager to see.
