LONELINESS AND A RAY OF LIGHT
By Tolu Bamidele
There are some days when we go to sleep with a smile and wake up downcast. We are so energised throughout the day, only to take a 5minutes nap and suddenly, there go 5 hours. Some days are just like that, we go through our contacts, and everyone seems to be busy. Now we are left to ourselves, in need of someone to talk to. While on some other days, when asked, “How are you?” through the storm of hurt, stress and confusion, we summarise with an “I’m fine” and a smile that must be accompanied by a squint to make it perfectly fake, less we’ll be caught.
But being tired and alone doesn’t mean you should be depressed. Take in deep breaths and read this: IT’S OK TO BE ALONE. As a matter of fact, being alone does not make you lonely at all. Michael Josephson would say:
“If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world is full of plenty of interesting and enjoyable things to do and people who can enrich your life.”
Most times, the time we have to ourselves is available for a reason. It could be for self-reflection, rest, creativity, self-development or “people development”. Take a peaceful walk down the road, and as you take glances at Mama Patrick selling doughnuts or Tunde’s awkward bet shop, ideas can come in as to how to make these people’s lives better. Like someone once said, “Be generous with your time and money”, even the bible says in Acts of the Apostles “…it is more blessed to give than to receive.” So, in that time that you feel a bit left out, why not make someone else feel special, the thrill in their eyes or voice can be rather elevating.
In another scenario when you seem to have a lot to say but do not want to speak to or know who to speak to, you can call a friend, mentor, or a parent. But the best thing to ever do is to say a prayer. We have been given a refuge that brings peace, and this peace surpasses all understanding. We have been given a helper, a comforter, that’s ever-present. All we need to do is ask, trust, believing and it’s all made available. From the still small voice to the prophecy from another believer to the loving words embedded in the bible, God always has a way of speaking to us. I hope and pray that the light of our understanding be open and the divine relationship with God becomes more than just a religion. Then we can be truly joyful.
Take away scriptures: Psalm 20; 63:6-7; Romans 15:13.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
-J.K. Rowling
DON’T FORGET TO TURN ON THE LIGHT
REMEMBER, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!