The author reflects on past regrets and wishes they could change certain situations from their past that have affected their present. However, they realize they cannot change the past and instead focus on making the most of their current opportunities. The author believes one's life circumstances do not determine their potential, and advises taking advantage of challenges to strengthen character rather than blaming outside factors. They conclude by encouraging embracing life's hardships as a path to peace and trusting that surrendering to God's will can lead to happiness.

1. HOW I WISH I COULD
Sometimes when I look back at my life, I feel so crushed and this brings some sought of emptiness within
my subconscious. During my quite time, I tend to do some reality checks on things I had done in the past
which has affected my present status which makes me literally weep and sorrowful. How I wish I could
turn back the ends of time, how I wish I could become younger, how I wish I could restart a new
life………Alas! I remember what Charles Dickens said,“ reflect upon your present blessings- of which
every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some .”
Dear old world, I know I can’t change some situations I underwent while with you, but I’m glad I now
have the capability to change what I would do with the new world. Someone once asked me why he was
born in an awkward nation like Nigeria and not in the United States where living condition is relatively
favourable. Within me, I concluded that this guy was not living a purposeful life, because it doesn’t really
matter where you are from or the colour you carry, I think what’s of utmost importance is how
resourceful you are to the things around you. Thomas Merton once said that , “ if you want to identify me
, ask me not where I live, or which race I’m from, but ask me what am I living for.”
I’m sure if some kind of immigration form is been placed out for those who wants to change their
nationality from being a Nigerian to citizens of some developed countries, I know some short-sighted
individuals would rush at these forms owning to their believe that all citizens of these countries live the
crème de la crème life but I count that as a pure delusive nonsense. You can apply the best of pomades to
change your skin, you can spend a whole lot of years in a foreign country, you can employ the services of
the best surgeons to make a plastic surgery for you, you can employ the best linguist to teach you some
new languages but there is something you can really change about yourself and that is your origin. If
president Barack Obama who has once served as a senator in a great city like Illinois and also the current
president of the United State of America can still be called a Kenyan-American then you know the
lingering effect your origin can have on you.
Maybe you are not concerned about your country, it could be your family that you find unfavourable and
you usually blame your association with such a family. Hear me; you are fortunate to be in that family.
This last statement might sound counter-intuitive but it’s actually logically true. If you’re from a poor
background, you would have to work harder, but that’s what makes who you really are because you had
once tasted the struggle and this would actually mould you to give some sought of urgency to life. A lot
of people around the world are actually surviving on little bellow a dollar a day and the question of what
to eat tonight is about life and death than about recipes, and the question I have for you is that do you
want to be among the pitiful or the powerful? So stop that “if I could” game and start the journey of “ I
would make my life count” . It is rather too clear and explicit that all men are naturally equal, made by
one man and with the same tools , so I guess we should all have the same propensity to sour higher
through smart work and diligence. But remember that when life is too easy for us, we must beware or we
may not be ready to meet the blows which would sooner or later come to us……… I’ve said enough to
behold, I would leave you with the serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr:

2. “God , give me the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the
things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at
a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is , not as I
would have it , trusting that you will make all things right , if I surrender to your will, so that I may be
reasonably happy In this life, and supremely happy with you forever in the next. Amen.”
As for me I want to live in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil would say, “aw
shit, he’s up again!
Abraham femi abraham