Keep Growing

Late last year. I went house hunting. It wasn't easy at all. We have to give it up for these agents. They walk the talk. While you are talking about finding an apartment, they are walking it. I did my best with the little time I had. I would book an appointment with an agent and meet him after work. With so little time, I couldn't do much. If I had continued like that, I'm sure I would have spent half my rent on inspection fees. Wisdom prevailed, and I reached out to someone who knows someone, and I was patched through to some guy, an agent too. When we got talking and I gave him an idea of the kind of place I wanted, he told me he had one, and that I would like it. Immediately, he said that, I said Amen with every nerve and belief. When we got to the place, before seeing the house, I told him I already loved the environment. We had to wait for the landlord to come back from work that evening. He suggested we go home and come back the next day, but I insisted on waiting. The landlord came back later in the night and met us. To my surprise, when he opened the door, there were no tiles. No toilet seat. No kitchen sink or shelf. The house was a repurposed one. I was disappointed, but in my heart, I knew that was the house I would stay in. The landlord observed me staring into the void. He came close and whispered that if money entered his hand now, he would complete the house in less than no time. I have heard of such cases in the past that ended in fights. We were approaching a new year and I didn't want to start with problems. But I believed him. So I paid him. He told me work would begin the next morning and that in one week, I would move in. I left. I came back a week later, the house was still in the state I met it. I didn't let it bother me though. Although the trust and belief began to wane. A week later, I came back and found that work had begun, but only minimally. It was only when the landlord showed me receipts of the items he bought for the house that I understood. For example, cement is now sold for 5,500 naira. Not to mention the tiles, kitchen and toilet equipment. He had not even raised the tank yet. I didn't lose faith or fill my mind with negative thoughts. I knew my house hunting days were over and all I needed was patience. I moved into the house after a month and some days, as opposed to the one week the man told me. And I can say that the wait was worth it. Two ladies who are my neighbours heard me making a call inquiring about how much it would cost to install shelves in the kitchen. They both came out and donated the wood they had at home. They even went as far as calling a carpenter who charged less than I budgeted. When I started off, I prayed and hoped for a place with a garden where I can plant something, nurture it and watch it grow. Right in front of my apartment is a little garden, I have planted hospital leaves, my favourite. I will also plant other things like pepper, scented leaves, and curry. There is beauty in watching something GROW. I met with the agent that found my apartment yesterday, and he gave me a firm handshake. While we were talking, he shook me again and said, "You be man". I smiled. When I asked him why he said that, he told me that before seeing the place, I already said I liked it, even when it was incomplete, and I waited till it was. He told me only a few people do that. I told him I no longer have room for doubts and negative thoughts. I make up my mind on how I want things to be for me. Ever since I discovered that path, it feels like I can walk on water and not drown. If you want things to work out, believe they will, regardless of what others will say or think. Every day is a gift, and as long as my eyes are open, I will focus on the new day and the happy memories I've stored just for this time in my life. HAPPINESS is like a bank account: you withdraw from it, what you deposit. So my advice would be to deposit a lot of happiness into your memory account. Remember these five simple things: 1.- Free your heart from hate/discord. 2.- Free your mind from worries. 3.- Live Simply. 4.- Give more. 5.-Be Patient. 6.- Take less. Life isn't that complicated after all. Sometimes we overwork ourselves with negative thoughts and pessimism. I long left that path. I'm on a new path now. If you are still walking the old path, maybe it is time to change your route. With love. Richard Stephen.