This Friday, Moyinfoluwa Ero-Philips thinks you should pay close attention to whatever your “meter” says. She’s got a special advice for everyone. Check this out.
I’ll start by saying “hello everyone”, because I always imagine that my mom is pissed, when I refuse to inculcate the “home training”, that she painstakingly instilled in me. Now that my mom’s frowning face has disappeared from my mind, I can ask you the pressing question. “What’s your ‘wetin be this’ meter reading?” You know that moment when you go, “Fuck it, I’d very much rather be dead than live through this B.S!” Abi na only me dey craze? *panicked looking around*
Yes, I constantly hear people talk about not putting so much pressure on yourself, in your twenties, because nobody has it figured out. Me, I believe say, all that one na reverse psychology. You know how, when people say “no pressure”, but they’re actually putting pressure on you? Exactly!
I will just lay it bare here, because someone might be able to relate. So, I have tried to off myself, a total of 10 to 15 times. I stopped counting when I was 18. And everytime I got to that point, it’s because I had gotten to a point of frustration. I can no longer make sense of life. And I think “wetin be this?” I understand that it is not an alien feeling to anyone, but do you know how to manage this feeling?
Oftentimes it’s a cumulative of a lot of seemingly minor things. In truth, it’s often as a result of comparison unwittingly, or otherwise. I like to kid myself and say that I do not compare myself to anyone. Cap! Even if you try not to do it, society does it for you. And if you do it moderately, there’s a pretty name for it, “Motivation”. If otherwise, then everyone suddenly becomes sanctimonious with the “eyah! Peer pressure” and “youth of today” bullshit. Daddy, don’t lie, why do you want to buy a Range Rover, your Honda civic does the exact same job. Does it not?
Anyway, as a person who spent years battling mental health and whatnot, I realised a while ago that your mental health is important (as is the mental health of people next to you). So, when you allow the little things like stubbing your toe, a faulty charger, your neighbours generator and pesky mosquitoes to build up, there will be an explosion when you get to the brink of your “wetin be this?” meter. Funny how it could be something as minuscule as wanting to pee or as seemingly serious as having an extra year in the university*, that’ll set you off. And you can’t know which it is. Especially if you don’t pay attention to what your meter is reading.
In the grand scheme of things, having an extra year is very inconsequential, because it neither validates or nullifies your goals and your ability to reach them. I figure say, many geniuses, fit no too sabi book like that.
