I JUST HAD A SET OF TWINS AND I CAN'T REJOICE ABOUT IT
I have always heard and read the saying that a smile could do so much especially to a stranger but it just never resonated with me. I am that person that keeps a very straight face whenever I am outside. You would find it hard to believe that they is so much liveliness in me.
Today this saying was pretty much explained to me in actions and not words.
As I left the house for work, I wanted to use the ATM but I didn't feel like going to queue up so I decided to make do with what I had on me. What I had on me would be sufficient to get me to work but I would have to use an ATM afterwards and that felt OK by me.
Due to the distance from my house to my office, I would need to take about three taxis to get to work. I had taken my first taxi and had just gotten into the second when some policemen came and started harassing the taxi drivers. Hence the taxi I was in had to hurriedly leave his vantage point to begin picking passengers along the road. When we got to Area one roundabout, he picked the last passenger who informed him that he would be alighting at the General Hospital along our destination. Few minutes after he got in, he began talking into his phone .I have no idea who made the call but unconsciously I and other passengers started listening in on his conversation.
His voice was heavy as his spoke. He informed his receiver that his wife had just birthed a set of twins. Then he added 'she died after giving birth to them. As it is now I've spent everything I have. I don't have anything on me.' He wasn't even ashamed that we were listening, his grief was beyond shame right now. I heard a fellow passenger grunt as he made his disclosure. We couldn't sympathise openly with him but we couldn't help but empathise. I personally wished I had made the withdrawal so I could give him N1000. It might not be much but it would communicate my sympathy. I couldn't talk to him either cause I was seating in the front seat and I dunno how he would take it if I spoke to him. But I really wanted to communicate with him. As he alighted, I could see him struggling to look brave as he sniffed. I just turned to the driver, 'please I'll pay for him.' He thanked me and left.
As I saw him walk away, I recalled how normal and straight faced he looked when he boarded the taxi. No way would I have imagined the tragedy he had just suffered. That opened my eyes to the fact that just like him a lot of people move around saddled with one concern, pain or grief. A smile from you might not take it all away but it could reassure the person that there is still hope. I decided to deliberately be cheerier around people. As I walked out of the office after the day's work, I didn't wear the usual straight face. I wore a smile on my face and waved at the security guard and other people around. My smile could just make them happy.
Your smile could do same.
Today this saying was pretty much explained to me in actions and not words.
As I left the house for work, I wanted to use the ATM but I didn't feel like going to queue up so I decided to make do with what I had on me. What I had on me would be sufficient to get me to work but I would have to use an ATM afterwards and that felt OK by me.
Due to the distance from my house to my office, I would need to take about three taxis to get to work. I had taken my first taxi and had just gotten into the second when some policemen came and started harassing the taxi drivers. Hence the taxi I was in had to hurriedly leave his vantage point to begin picking passengers along the road. When we got to Area one roundabout, he picked the last passenger who informed him that he would be alighting at the General Hospital along our destination. Few minutes after he got in, he began talking into his phone .I have no idea who made the call but unconsciously I and other passengers started listening in on his conversation.
His voice was heavy as his spoke. He informed his receiver that his wife had just birthed a set of twins. Then he added 'she died after giving birth to them. As it is now I've spent everything I have. I don't have anything on me.' He wasn't even ashamed that we were listening, his grief was beyond shame right now. I heard a fellow passenger grunt as he made his disclosure. We couldn't sympathise openly with him but we couldn't help but empathise. I personally wished I had made the withdrawal so I could give him N1000. It might not be much but it would communicate my sympathy. I couldn't talk to him either cause I was seating in the front seat and I dunno how he would take it if I spoke to him. But I really wanted to communicate with him. As he alighted, I could see him struggling to look brave as he sniffed. I just turned to the driver, 'please I'll pay for him.' He thanked me and left.
As I saw him walk away, I recalled how normal and straight faced he looked when he boarded the taxi. No way would I have imagined the tragedy he had just suffered. That opened my eyes to the fact that just like him a lot of people move around saddled with one concern, pain or grief. A smile from you might not take it all away but it could reassure the person that there is still hope. I decided to deliberately be cheerier around people. As I walked out of the office after the day's work, I didn't wear the usual straight face. I wore a smile on my face and waved at the security guard and other people around. My smile could just make them happy.
Your smile could do same.
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