THE JOURNEY BEYOND: DYING WITHOUT REGRETS.

YUBEDEE PYAMENE ANOKARI

“Teach us this day that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”
If only we truly lived while we had the time, then we wouldn’t be so scared and utterly bothered about dying. Truth is, everyone(we all) will die someday, some how, it’s just a matter of time.

Living our lives may seem easy and seamless, but this is the path that has led many to tears and pain on their deathbed.

Living our lives with relevance in mind and our end in perspective, somehow will serve as a guide for us to really major on things with generational value and eternal reward. Because in the end, what will really matter to us isn’t going to be what we have, but what we’ve done with all we have – the lives we’ve been able to touch, the smiles we’ve put on people’s faces, the wrongs we’ve corrected and the problems solved, that’s what will really matter to us on that deathbed.

Being able to die without regrets, without tears, wishing you could have done more, made more impact, used your gifts more – wishing you had helped that family, ran that foundation, used your resources more to better the lives of others, setting a legacy; that’s where regrets sets in, when we’re not at peace in our final moments.

We fail to realise we’re running out of time with every tick of the clock. Cos just as a flicker of light in the rainy night is blown off abruptly, so is life, we’re never promised tomorrow. Yet we live as though we had nine lives, like we’ll have another opportunity to right our wrongs. But when that solemn moment comes, lying totally helpless on our deathbed, we finally realise, perhaps a little too late, that there’s really nothing we can do about it. Our whole life flashes in front of our eyes at that instant – our life’s goal should be that at the moment when it flashes, it should worth watching!

Are we going to leave this world without a trace? Without a mark of something we did? Is anyone going to remember we ever walked this path? And even if they do, what’s it going to be for – the pain and hurt we caused or the problems we solved and the smiles we put on people’s faces, what’s it going to be? It’s your call!

DORA AKUNYILI

Dora Akunyili, popoluarly known for her feat with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Being the Director General for 7 successive years, she successfully clamped down circulation of fake drugs within the country. She made Nigeria safe again.

KENULE SARO WIWA

Kenule Saro Wiwa, widely known for being an outspoken critic of the Nigerian Government of his days, fought non-violently against the marginalisation of the Ogoni people and the indiscriminate drilling of oil in her land without environmental best practices. Famous for his quote “You can kill the messenger, but you can’t kill the message”.

SAM LOCO EFE

Sam Loco Efe, wrote his name in gold in hearts of Nigerians, as he found his niche and followed it to the letter. Being a comical figure at the time, he brought humour and relaxation to Nigerians, who, watching him star in movies, was a delight. He will never be forgotten in the Nigerian movie industry.

CHINUA ACHEBE

Chinua Achebe, carving a niche for himself in the hearts of many across the world, successfully engraved his name in the sands of time. That even after death, he’s still very much remembered and referenced for his brilliant, artistic and literary skills, with so many works to his name – notably, THINGS FALL APART. Also, being a political critic, one of his famous quotes was “one of the truest tests of integrity, is its blunt refusal to be compromised”.

The world still begs the question, what are you going to be remembered for? What will be written on your tombstone?

Teach us this day that we may apply our hearts to wisdom!

Yubedee Pyamene Anokari, is a contributor on the blog, an amazing content writer and entrepreneur. Currently a student of environmental studies at the University of Port Harcourt, an SDG advocate, passionate about personal growth and development.