Your footprints in the sand of time

Taking a look at life in general, what exactly are we living for as women? Why all the fuss, fighting, hating and all other negative vices when one day we shall all die? Have we ever paused to think about what we would be appreciated for when we finally bid this world goodbye? If we […]

Taking a look at life in general, what exactly are we living for as women? Why all the fuss, fighting, hating and all other negative vices when one day we shall all die? Have we ever paused to think about what we would be appreciated for when we finally bid this world goodbye?

If we want to be sincere with ourselves, we would accept that most women always hold something against someone and carry it in their hearts like a log; be it a co-wife, neighbour’s wife, in-laws and sometimes even brother in-law’s wife. We become so drained in vain competition, hate or vendetta that we forget that there is more to life than just taking revenge. Life is too short to be wasted on all these vulgarities. There are many positive things we could do with the time we waste planning revenge or the downfall of a fellow being.

The wind of life blows differently for each one of us.

There are those who have that good heart but are never appreciated and those who are appreciated but fall beyond expectation. They throw caution to the wind and go about living life as though the end really never matter. But it does; it really does!

An aunt who was just like a mother passed away last week after battling with a terminal ailment. She left this world without biding anyone a goodbye. Her death left many pondering at the essence of life. She was the kind of woman whom every son or daughter would want for a mother, every wife would want for a mother-in-law, every man would want as a wife and a humble being everyone would want to be associated with. Hajiya died a humble woman and one would say she left her footprints in the sand of time. Would your footprints be visible in the sand of time when you pass away?

Also last week, a friend got talking about her travails but thankfully she found humour about every chapter of her disjointed life. Life had been unfair to her but she did not hold that back against anyone who came her way. As unfair as life had been to her, she made it a life principle to make a positive impact on the people she met. Instead of people making good use of this gesture, many saw it as a weakness and went ahead to take advantage of her generosity. In her words “ what is the point in wearing expensive clothes, shoes and spending extravagantly when I can make at least ten people happy a day by not buying that N80,000 shoes or slippers? Life is too short to waste on such vanity. I’d rather leave a positive legacy than die an extravagant or pompous woman” she said. If you ask me, I would say when she is no more, she will surely leave positive footprints in the sands of life.

One is most concerned about the legacies women leave behind because women are the true shapers of society yet, most times they are quick to lose focus on what life is really all about. We would rather spend the whole of our lives acquiring the latest shoes, bags, clothes, fighting, hating, and taking vengeance, gossiping and a whole lot of negative vices. How many of us are willing to sacrifice a part of what we have acquired to a needy child just to put a smile on his/her face? Sincerely, very few would readily do this.

How many of us can be there for friends in their darkest hours in life? Be with them during trying moments every step of the way till they see light at the end of the tunnel? Again, very few of us as we are either fair weather friends or are surrounded by them. Very few of us have the heart to remain with people when they need us the most. Have we ever thought how much a true friend can go in one’s life?

Recently too, a friend lost her husband. Listening to Halima say “he walked with me and helped me understand where I was going. He walked with me when I was all alone, he promised he would always be with me when my heart was full of sorrow and he will always be there for me when I needed a friend. When I thought I had lost my way in life. He gave me strength to carry on, now he has left a big void in my life…..” she turned to me and asked, “where do I start from” and gave in to the emotions she had been fighting hard to hold back.

I pulled myself together and told her to take solace in the fact that he left positive footprints in the sands of life not just for her but for everyone close to him.

I couldn’t help but ask myself on my way back home, what kind of footprints would I be leaving behind when I eventually leave this world? I now put this question to readers, what footprints would you be leaving in the sand of life? Legacies as small as smiles, habitual nods of acknowledgement or appreciation, a hug, words of encouragement, a listening ear, a welcoming heart are in store for you as the footprints to leave in this life after you are gone. Find, cultivate and nurture your footprints before the candle blows out.