Stepping out of the shadows
By: Ify Omife
Tags: Self Improvement, Courageous Living, Self Esteem

It was around this time last year we had all resigned to the fact that the earth was pushing us into solitude, like never experienced before. We were forced to see how vulnerable we humans were…. How mortal.

We learnt how to be still in this fast paced world.

We learnt the true essence of life and living.

We learnt and re-learnt the language of our gods.

And in a world that wants you to be anything and everything, we learnt how to just be.

Now, a year later, with mini-victories in its fight against the pandemic, the world is still scampering to heal itself from the aches that came with it. Sadly, the virus hasnt been the only pandemic the world has had to go through. We have seen injustices that have torn communities and shaken up systems like never before. We’re daily looking over our shoulders seeing how ‘man’s inhumanity to man’, has even the devil taking down notes.

Indeed, if there were ever a time the world needed us the most, it would be now.

Its hard to tell if the lessons of the past year still remain with us. But if there’s one thing i doubt i’ll ever forget, is that we’re all living on borrowed time and that us still being here, points to the fact that the universe is depending on us to do something. To play our own part.

It’s every man’s hope to leave the world better than we found it. And whilst we have no mapped out blue print on how to achieve this, we’re all aware that it inescapably points us to our purpose.

I used to think purpose was something big we were in a constant cycle of searching for. But i’ve come to realize it could be anything and everything. the big and small things. Building legacies that span through generations and handing out lunch to someone in dire need; none more important than the other.

You see humans are the most powerful beings ever created. The earth is ours (and its fullness thereof). Sadly,where we should be unleashing our endless potentials and power, it looks like we’re constantly cowering and hiding in shadows.

We live in a world where from young, fear and self- doubt are sold to us and imputed on our dreams. We are hushed into silence when we try to express our disapproval, and in this part of the world where I am, you are sneered at for being disresfectful for even attempting to do so.

Uncosnsciously, as we grow, we begin to believe all of these lies ourselves- that taking the route of silence would always be the more dignified path and some dreams are just too big thus they best stay as dreams.

Whether we find ourselves in the shadows of others, or in the ones we cast on ourselves, the former being even less forgiveable than the latter; none of them deserves to have us trapped in forever.

I wonder how much different the world would look if we all decided to do a little better and give a lot more of ourselves. Take countless leaps in the love walk towards each other and speak up more. Even when its the unpopular, unconventional truth. The difficult truth. The truth still.

Maybe it wouldnt magically erase all the strains and uncertainties that come with living. But i’m certain our world would be better for it in a way that we’re all better for it.

Dear human, step out of the shadows.

Step into your light.