Life sure isn't easy for a lot of people, especially those who have to toil hard just for one meal's worth. The daily struggle is real in many places throughout Ghana. People get up before dawn, work as hard as they can and then force themselves to continue through tiredness and hunger, just for the sake of living. This struggle to keep alive by putting food on the table is something everyone faces, and it is itself a sort of inspiration.
During my recent visit to Ghana, I saw such a scene. A young man who completely exhausted himself working during the day had fallen asleep on the back of a van. His body was communicating fatigue, but at the same time there was an expression of relief that he had given everything he had today to survive. This picture has stayed with me because it is so much like everyday life for a lot people whose livelihoods depend on hard work. Day to day survival is a challenge for many.
Some people carry heavy loads in the market, while others toil under the hot sun at building sites or in factories and fields. They hope that by dinnertime they will have enough to buy food. They keep going through the weariness because they have no other choice. Work, fatigue, survival—it is a cycle that must repeat itself over and over, yet they retain their hopes for something better. Just so this young man rests for a moment on the back of the van, it is something deeper.
It demonstrates the extent to which people will go to keep their living standards. And it also recalls how much effort is involved in getting those simple little things that, although we may take for granted, like our meals. Behind every single meal, there is someone who worked tirelessly to produce it, transport it, or sell it. The daily struggles of survival are not merely about physical labour but also resilience, endurance, and a will to go on no matter how tough things get.
To see this young man gave me a vivid reminder that countless others are caught in a similar trap day after day. Their stories should be told and recognized for the effort. They make that effort. Thanks to a visit to Ghana, I gained a new appreciation for the hardworking people there and in places around the world. From this perspective, it also can serve as a plea that we all might be more understanding and support those who perform unceasing toil to make a living. The struggle for daily survival is real, but these people's strength and determination are truly inspirational.
