The annual Old Students’ Reunion began with greetings, exchange of pleasantries, and warm embraces, especially amongst those who had been out of town for quite a while. The venue was aesthetically pleasing. Good music saturated the atmosphere. The School Anthem followed by the shouts of ‘Class of Galaxy!’ ‘Class of Galaxy!’ heralded the presence of a good number of the most prestigious old students.
Some of the known faces arrived dressed in expensive outfits, complemented with breathtaking accessories, and wearing extravagant perfumes. They stepped out of luxurious cars and started taking photographs from every angle imaginable. They flaunted their designer rings from time to time.
As I moved through the crowd, I heard them discuss inter-alia, brands, latest phones, cars, fashion trends, and travel destinations. One of them said, “Charlie, Accra life is lived by planning and packaging. As for me, if it’s not LV or Gucci , count me out. In fact, I don’t mind borrowing to look good and smell nice as a man.” I observed that almost everyone was trying to communicate how well they were doing and what they were willing to do.
Being turned, I recognised one gentleman among them. Apparently, this young man had reached out to me privately about two weeks ago, complaining about financial difficulties. He was struggling with debt. The pressure from his creditors and family responsibilities were increasing. Honestly, he seemed very worried and despondent when he got in touch with me. Yet at the reunion, he appeared to be living a completely different reality.
This experience left me in bewilderment. I decided to juxtapose our modern lifestyle with the culture of our ancestors. Placing our contemporary way of life vis-à-vis the traditions of the older generation got me thinking about what went wrong and what’s happening to this dispensation.
I realised that our ancestors didn’t really care much about what to wear, what to eat, which means of transportation they used. They ate what they had from their farms and were content with life while striving to attain greater feats. They walked miles to and fro about their endeavours. Yes, I know, culture is dynamic and we are not in 1844. The word has evolved and technology has advanced. However, we can enjoy these developments without putting ourselves in unnecessary predicaments.
Today, what do we see? Ask the average young person what they want for their birthday. It’s all about pizza, shawarma, iPhone 17 Pro max, designer wear, etc. You’ll hear, “I don’t board troski and I can’t walk. Order Shaxi or Uber.” Meanwhile they can’t afford the cost themselves. Don’t get it twisted. We don’t necessarily have to return to the past nor are we to surrender blindly to the present. The goal is to live a modest life.
Am I against dressing well, looking good, smelling nice, enjoying the rewards of hard work, being comfortable, or celebrating achievements? Oh, no! I’m a big advocate for excellence in life and its endeavours. However, living beyond your means to present a certain persona or maintain an image is where I draw the line. Trying to impress others often becomes financially, emotionally, and psychologically exhausting.
“Fake it till you make it,” they say. But, I say ‘faith it till you make it’. In other words, put in the work and trust the process of becoming. Today, you are here, but, tomorrow, you’ll be there. The only difference between ‘here’ and ‘there’ is ‘t’, which represents time. Life is a function of time. Just give it some time. Life is in phases; men are in sizes. You know it when you are not yet at a certain level in life. The best you can do is not to eat your seed when others are enjoying their harvest.
The way forward is wisdom. And by wisdom, I mean: the ability to understand that real success does not happen overnight. I am talking about the consciousness that if you eat tomorrow’s food today, you will be hungry; if you wear tomorrow’s clothes now, you will be naked sooner or later. My godfather, Michael Adebola alias Matics, puts it this way, “Be Youthful You!.” Embrace your most energetic, authentic and passionate self. Let go of an impressive mindset and live a purpose-driven life.
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