By Lisetta Woluchem
Life is a journey. A journey that's filled with lots of stories, experiences, and bittersweet memories.
It's usually said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. As much as I believe that to be true, I also want to believe that a lot of determination, belief, focus and commitment is put into that one step before anything meaningful can be achieved.
I'm not very old. In fact I am not old at all, but I was born at a time when some parts of the world was still in the process of becoming easy and less...burdensome. People call it civilization.
If books and history are anything to go by, it's said that there was a time when there were no phones, no cars, no computers, no TV's, no internet, no good medical facilities, no 'life-made-easy', or anything meaningful whatsoever.
There was a time when people had to walk for miles to get to somewhere, when animals were used as a means of transport, when smoke was used as a means of communication, when it took days to get a very important message across to a loved one, the list goes on. But, while living may not have been easy, people were happy, content, and they made do with what they had.
Interesting thing is even when things were still...taking shape, most people lived rather than existed.
My childhood isn't that long ago, but I remember a lot of things that were, but aren't anymore.
The part of the world I come from used to be happier, safer, and easier to live in.
As a child, if felt like there was nothing special and too serious about life. It felt like there was nothing that couldn't be achieved. People weren't too uptight, serious, and cautious about everything.
People went about their daily lives without having to look over their shoulders to ensure their safety.
I remember some nights we slept with the doors open, without fear of the unknown. Parents were at ease even with their kids miles apart from them.
It was easier to believe that children would grow up following the positive habits they've been taught. Even times, seasons, and weather made sense.
I miss those days I longed for the day to run its course and allow the night to adorn us with its glow (the moon) just so myself, my siblings and cousins could sit round grandma for endless tales of virtually everything.
I miss those days when you hear the sound and shrieks of joy coming from kids playing around.
I miss those days coins were still recognized as a means of exchange.
I miss those days the world wasn't so tensed up and fearful.
I miss those days our culture and tradition actually meant something.
I miss those days when youngsters had respect for their elders.
I miss those days when kids thought they could conquer the world.
I miss times when different seasons were longed for.
I miss those days people didn't lose sight of what had to be done.
I miss those days people actually treated others as they wanted to be treated.
I miss those days when being our brothers' keeper was what everyone longed for.
I miss those days when a cry for help brought tons of people to the scene of distress.
I've not been around long enough, but I can tell the difference between now and 20 years ago, and I miss those days when the world felt safer, more peaceful, and sane.
Reminiscing is a two way street. It comes with memories that leave scars, tears of joy tears of pain, and smiles that stretch from ear to ear. But while taking that cruise into your past, it's always best to remember that one thing about today is that tomorrow, it becomes yesterday.
Lisetta Woluchem is very active on twitter and you can follow her on @LisettaWoluchem
Life is a journey. A journey that's filled with lots of stories, experiences, and bittersweet memories.
It's usually said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. As much as I believe that to be true, I also want to believe that a lot of determination, belief, focus and commitment is put into that one step before anything meaningful can be achieved.
I'm not very old. In fact I am not old at all, but I was born at a time when some parts of the world was still in the process of becoming easy and less...burdensome. People call it civilization.
If books and history are anything to go by, it's said that there was a time when there were no phones, no cars, no computers, no TV's, no internet, no good medical facilities, no 'life-made-easy', or anything meaningful whatsoever.
There was a time when people had to walk for miles to get to somewhere, when animals were used as a means of transport, when smoke was used as a means of communication, when it took days to get a very important message across to a loved one, the list goes on. But, while living may not have been easy, people were happy, content, and they made do with what they had.
Interesting thing is even when things were still...taking shape, most people lived rather than existed.
My childhood isn't that long ago, but I remember a lot of things that were, but aren't anymore.
The part of the world I come from used to be happier, safer, and easier to live in.
As a child, if felt like there was nothing special and too serious about life. It felt like there was nothing that couldn't be achieved. People weren't too uptight, serious, and cautious about everything.
People went about their daily lives without having to look over their shoulders to ensure their safety.
I remember some nights we slept with the doors open, without fear of the unknown. Parents were at ease even with their kids miles apart from them.
It was easier to believe that children would grow up following the positive habits they've been taught. Even times, seasons, and weather made sense.
I miss those days I longed for the day to run its course and allow the night to adorn us with its glow (the moon) just so myself, my siblings and cousins could sit round grandma for endless tales of virtually everything.
I miss those days when you hear the sound and shrieks of joy coming from kids playing around.
I miss those days coins were still recognized as a means of exchange.
I miss those days the world wasn't so tensed up and fearful.
I miss those days our culture and tradition actually meant something.
I miss those days when youngsters had respect for their elders.
I miss those days when kids thought they could conquer the world.
I miss times when different seasons were longed for.
I miss those days people didn't lose sight of what had to be done.
I miss those days people actually treated others as they wanted to be treated.
I miss those days when being our brothers' keeper was what everyone longed for.
I miss those days when a cry for help brought tons of people to the scene of distress.
I've not been around long enough, but I can tell the difference between now and 20 years ago, and I miss those days when the world felt safer, more peaceful, and sane.
Reminiscing is a two way street. It comes with memories that leave scars, tears of joy tears of pain, and smiles that stretch from ear to ear. But while taking that cruise into your past, it's always best to remember that one thing about today is that tomorrow, it becomes yesterday.
Lisetta Woluchem is very active on twitter and you can follow her on @LisettaWoluchem
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