LIFE LESSON FROM AN OLD MAN ABOUT TO DIE

Doctor, don't worry, I know that I am going to die. I didn't want to come here, but they brought me here. Please don't worry about me. Look at my hair, they are already gone. I am so old and you are young. I have learnt a lot from life, if you don't mind I will tell you some of them before I die.

When I was 4 years old, I use to think the world was about me. When I turned 14, I wanted to rule the world. I wanted to be the greatest man that ever lived. When I was 21, I wanted to be the richest man. When I was 25, I wanted to find love. When I was 40, I wanted to be helpful to everyone. 

Now that I am here, I want to die. You see, I wanted so many things at the same time. Most importantly,  I wanted to be happy and I thought that the best way to be happy is to listen to others. 

When I wanted to enter the university I wanted to study Zoology.  But  everyone said I should study Engineering and that I would be a great Engineer. So, I listened to them. I had no one to pay my fees. I had to work and pay my fees.

In my third year, I couldn't cope with my studies, I had to drop. When I dropped, same people told me that you should have studdied Zoology!

When I was 28, everyone said that I should marry and that I needed a wife. So I listened to them, I got married and 6 years into the marriage, I caught my wife sleeping with my neighbour.

I asked why and she slapped me. I was angry and  I didn't say anything. The next day I returned from work, she ran away with my children. Now, I am dying a lonely man.

At 40, I got a 10 million naira contract. My name was in the news. The next day, all my friends and family were in the house. Everyone had a serious problem. Within one week, I spent all the money on them with the promise that they will pay back. I could not complete the contract because they refused to pay the money as promised.

So, I was sent to jail for 6 years. I stayed in jail and when I came out, they were nowhere.

There was one mistake I made through all these times. Now it is clear to me. Let me tell you about it.

I refused to listen to my own self. I ignored myself and listened to others. Now that I am here, the only person that is with me is myself.

You see, it is very good to listen to others. It is wise to seek advice from others.

But it is very DANGEROUS to ignore your own self. It is very DANGEROUS to refuse to pay attention to your own heart.

When you get home this night. Sit down, take a glass of water, open your eyes or close your eyes if you want to, then talk to yourself.  Reason with yourself. 

You can walk down the road alone and as you walk down, begin to talk to yourself.

The only person that can OVER RULE yourself is God and after God, listen to yourself next.

I know that it may not make sense to you now, but remember what I told you; LISTEN TO YOURSELF!