People assume things about us to kind of make themselves feel like they know us very well. If we have the opportunity of hearing about all assumptions that have been raised about us, we will be surprised about how well people on our acquaintance list feel they know us.
When I hear people assume things about me sometimes, I leave them to continue their assumptions. After all, the world is a free place for all to co-exist freely.
This reminds me of a woman I lived with during my final year as an undergraduate. During those times, I had a lot to do. My project was there so also was responsibilities from all the associations I belonged to where I was holding one executive post or the other so my stay in the hotel during the week is always very minimal as I leave in the morning and move from one lecture hall to the other or to a meeting or to supervisor's office before returning to the library around afternoon then returning home around six in the evening.
Weekends that were supposed to be the time to spend in the hostel usually met me on my way home. Don't blame me, my family home is in the same state as my institution so I take my clothes home and do my laundry from home every weekend then return to school very early Monday morning.
This lifestyle made my neighbor assume I am an egun lady from Badagry. How did I find out? An election was approaching and we had to travel to our family home which we called town. I was talking to a friend I had an appointment with on the phone not to delay me as I would like to travel on time. Immediately I ended the calls, this my neighbor said sebi Badagry ni ile nbi n bi ni e nlo, e de wa n sebi eni to o n lo si Ibadan (is it not Badagry here you are going to, why are you in so much haste like someone going to Ibadan).
I smiled and calmly told her where I was traveling to. It was then she said ah! e ma binu o, mo ro wipe egun ni yin ni( oh! sorry please I think you are an Egun lady who came from Badagry judging from your look and the way you travel home almost every weekend). She said she never imagined that I traveled that far every weekend and I jokingly told her a lot of people do things we may never be able to imagine. It is better to ask than to assume.
All images are mine.
