THE HARD TRUTH TO CONSIDER DURING THE RAINY SEASON AND BE THANKFUL FOR

When I was little I used to play a lot in the rain, especially with my friends, sometimes we play soccer other times just ran around which used to be fun. Nowadays you highly see kids doing that. Well, I guess it is a generational change thing. Since I moved back to Liberia from Ghana after so many years of seeking other opportunities with families. Traveling outside of your country can help create new and good experiences.

A story I would go into another day.

Africa has two significant seasons due to our climate. The wet season runs from April-October while the dry runs from November- march yearly. I would go ahead and list two reasons we should consider trying times.

A. There is good in bad when we look closely and carefully

While it is true, some people are affected hugely during this period, which we are currently experiencing as I write this article. But there are good things that others do experience and admire too during this time.

Take for example the epidemic(Corona) period where there were several locked down. It wasn’t a good experience for many people. But this period thought families, friends, and loved ones many lessons. Remote jobs grew. People found other means of survival while staying home. Others obtain a massive boost in their business etc.

I am saying this to say that sometimes the things we see or experience may not be as hard/bad as we look at them but, there is some good in them.

B. Being thankful

As a young man myself who is still struggling to better my life, I have been blessed to have a roof over my head for which I am grateful.

On regular weekdays, after the taxi had just dropped us [ my kid and I ] at our destination, we usually stop at a major intersection to cross.

While crossing that day, apparently it has been raining heavily the whole day and our streets were flooded. With no sidewalks to even stand on.

Finding a means to cross this four-line boulevard road at the mercy of drivers. At the same time, I am lifting my nine years old kid from the ground.

Ensuring her shoes wouldn’t get soaking wet and we are safe. I was holding the umbrella with my other hand and carrying my back bag at the same time crossing the street and keeping focus while cars seem not to be slowing down easily with a broken street light. Sounds untrue right? But it is.

We finally manage to cross, then a thought cross my mind about, the fact that other west African countries don’t experience this normal rain, even with these challenges when they are in the wet season.

And, when they do there are disasters everywhere. Making it difficult for them to gather safe drinking water and other life-threatening problems.

For us (Liberia) the soil is good which makes it easier to absorb water faster and find water in the least place when we dig a little. It seems to be one of the toughest seasons for many during this time of the year.

People find it hard to gather provisions, and homes and major places are flooded leaving people homeless and heavy traffic that causes roadblocks for hours in many parts of the city.

This we can’t say is due to the civil war no longer but, our very self and the leaders we elect which we hope would change someday.

But we can still find meaning in this, as writer Viktor Frankl said in his book Man’s Search For Meaning.

“We should find meaning in life no matter our situations”.

During this period, it is observed that work highly comes by and personal and industrial projects are put on hold. Many of us can’t afford a vehicle now, let alone common items like umbrellas, raincoats, and a good shelter with the current world economic crisis on the rise.

But we can always find meaning in whatever situations we may find ourselves in.

Think about this as we are all faced with life challenges to survive and be prepared for both good times and bad times. Viktor also stated in his book,

“To the extent to which one makes happiness the objective of his motivation, he necessarily makes it the object of his attention. But precisely by so doing he loses sight of the reason for happiness, and happiness itself must fade away.”

Find meaning in every little thing and see the outcome even during these times.

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