When I look back to the time when I was much younger, like a teenager, I remember how we used to look up to the adults around us. They were bigger, more respected, and had the kind of freedom that allowed them to do things for themselves. Most times, we would wonder why they told us not to do certain things, and we often felt controlled. Back then, we used to say, “Once I become an adult, I will have the freedom to do whatever I like and however I like.” But is that always true? Becoming an adult itself comes with a load of responsibilities.
There is a saying in our locality that “adulthood is a scam,” and when you look at it closely, it does sound like one because you suddenly have a lot of things to do and be responsible for, particularly if you have a child, a wife, and other responsibilities. You will have to take care of them unless you are someone who is irresponsible. I don’t think any mother would see her child go without food and still be happy about it, except maybe in two out of a hundred cases.
Growing up now, I have realised that adulthood is not a joke. The freedom we craved back then is now available to us, but we can hardly use it because there are many things waiting for our attention. You think about family, friends, and even work. So where is the time to even be free? I remember when I was younger, I could play and gallivant around as I liked, but now it is no longer the same. I have lost interest in many things. I also think being single can afford someone more leisure time because you are not answerable to anyone’s call. You are responsible for yourself alone. That is why it is good for people to enjoy themselves when they still have the capacity because time waits for no one.
When people say experience is the best teacher, some may want to argue, but I will tell you for free that one of the best ways to learn and understand things is through experience. What I mean is that we often learn from what we experience ourselves or from the experiences of people around us. There are many things that, even when explained to people, they may not fully relate to unless they experience them personally. You cannot say you would survive a difficult task that killed someone else unless you find yourself in that situation first.
One thing I have realised is that time is very essential in this life, and how we use it is entirely up to us. The truth is that we all have the same number of hours, but we use them differently, and the results will certainly depend on how we individually use our time. The same amount of time the rich have is also available to the poor. We all have the same twenty-four hours, and we can choose to do whatever we like with them. It is all about choice. Yesterday, after feeling exhausted from work, I was walking down the beach and found myself appreciating nature in its simplicity and seeing how people came to pray and render praises to the Maker.
We have to utilise our time wisely because we will not have the same strength forever. We cannot remain teenagers forever. If we refuse to invest in our lives now, at a certain stage in life we will be forced to face challenges head-on tomorrow. It is not a curse or anything like that; it is simply the natural outcome of life. Perhaps only those who do not live long enough to reach old age may escape such realities.