Kayode Kolade: My 1000th freebie (30 Days, 30 Voices)

I thought to myself. Deeply and soberly, how would it feel if I had to depend on the stranger I cannot see to take my next step?

Griiing! Griiing! The pesky peace-snatching chime of my alarm helps start the day and after snoozing in a little while longer I roll my lazy frame off my comfort and bring my knees to the soft but sure prickings of the rug by my bed. Rubbing my face briskly as though speckles of sleep adorned it, elbows angled and hands clasped, I whispered a few words to the one who made all these and many more possible. Flipping through my bible with eyes scanning steadily for my daily bread, my soul listened for its food.

Foot and ankle; shin, calf and knee; a worthy order with which my weight steadied up in the air. I made for the wardrobe, picking out my clothing for the day. With my green towel in my hands I made for the shower and walked out of it cleaner and moist. I stared into the mirror and beheld for a few seconds, my well-dressed frame and just as seconds gave way to minutes, I hit the road. With cool air brushing past my face and music filtering into my ears, I was headed for work.

And then…

With his shirt buttoned up wrongly, his pants missing every other belt-hole and his foldable staff clutched in his hands, he takes one step at a time, obviously unsure if the next one would afford him another. He feels body heat nearby and whispers in this direction, ‘Could you please help me get on a bus to Obalende?’ The other stranger obliged and while holding his hand, led him on a bus to his destination.

He stepped on and made to take a seat at the empty space that was to occupy the last foldable seat and just then I said, ‘Hold on, may I help you extend the seat?’ with a thankful smile, he said, ‘Thank you sir’ and sat down slowly and carefully. While he sensed that the bus was coming to final halt, he turned to his side as though he could see or even knew the stranger beside him, ‘Could you please lead me out of the bus?

He stood at the ever-busy bus stop, stretching out his staff and then he started making his way forward. Carefully and steadily, in a direction only he knew.

And just then…

I thought to myself. Deeply and soberly, how would it feel if I had to depend on the stranger I cannot see to take my next step? Turn to the next source of body heat to know when to get across the street? And put my weight on a staff, one I cannot even see?

How I take every ‘free gift’ for granted? My eyes see, ears hear, hands hold, legs walk, sense of smell and balance direct, and my mind births. These and many more, are a part of my daily freebies to make a difference with. And here-in lies my 1000th freebie, ‘the ability to thank God for all these and more, willingly’.

You have read, you have seen but wouldn’t it be sin not to use up your 1000th freebie?

——————————————–

Kayode Kolade is an astute project management consultant and strategist, currently practising as a construction professional. He is a passionate writer, with an unrepentant zeal to cause  stir in forging ahead in every endeavor the mind is involved. GenuisMinded (as he is fondly called), finds fulfillment in mentoring and public speaking – @kkolade

——————————————–

30 Days 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians to share their stories and experiences with other young Nigerians, within our borders and beyond, to inspire and motivate them.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

 

 

Comments (8)

  1. For my eyes,ears,straight legs,I thank u God

  2. Very lovely piece Kay! It's so funny how we take a lot of things for granted and we believe it's our right to have them. Let us always have an attitude of gratitude.

  3. Made me sober-stop nd reflect 4 a min. Nice piece. D things we tke 4 granted..

  4. Youth, Hope of the

    world

    youth empowerment

    simply means self

    employment or self

    sufficiency.

    We Nigerian youth that

    were still schooling we

    can still engage our

    selves in activities that

    can make us to be self

    reliance and productive,

    both academically and

    finacially. Instead of

    wasting our precious

    time and depending on

    others, or engaging our

    selves in suspicious act

    or embarassing things

    that we cant even be

    boast of in the society.

    We can invest that time

    by learnin one skills or

    the other.

    There are so many skills

    that we youth can

    acquire while schooling

    *INTELLECTUAL SKILLS:

    this skills can be

    acquired through

    academic learning and

    studying establishment

    of evening coaching for

    junior ones or pupils

    preparing for common

    entrance examination or

    for junior waec, waec,

    jamb, neco ,etc

    *COMMUNICATIVE

    SKILLS: communication

    is different from

    speaking communication

    is the act of sending

    and recieving ideas

    between two or more

    people.

    People are employed in

    broadcasting station

    because they

    communicate and

    express ideas better

    than others.

    As a student we can

    develop our

    communicative skills

    when we take

    leadership roles in:

    i. Literary and debating

    society.

    ii. Social clubs such as

    junior chamber, in or

    church and mosques,

    local communities

    football clubs etc

    we should be bold, self

    confidence and

    courageous to face

    audience.

    * Artists skills: this has

    to do with creativity

    ability even imaginary

    objects.

    This starts when we

    made ourselves

    available in cultural and

    creative art classes. We

    can develop the skill by

    participating in cultural

    and creative art

    competition festival and

    the tiles interest in

    artists and also pay

    attention to what they

    do and how they do

    things

    * Life coping skills

    * Manipulative skills

    Am sure with this you

    will be prepare for

    greater future

    challenges

    By OLAWALE DAVID

    OYINLADE Director of

    Y,HOTW

  5. Youth, Hope of the.
    world
    youth empowerment
    simply means self.
    employment or self.
    sufficiency.
    We Nigerian youth that.
    were still schooling we.
    can still engage our.
    selves in activities that.
    can make us to be self.
    reliance and productive,
    both academically and.
    finacially. Instead of
    wasting our precious.
    time and depending on.
    others, or engaging our.
    selves in suspicious act.
    or embarassing things.
    that we cant even be.
    boast of in the society.
    We can invest that time.
    by learnin one skills or.
    the other.
    There are so many skills.
    that we youth can.
    acquire while schooling.
    *INTELLECTUAL SKILLS:
    this skills can be.
    acquired through
    academic learning and.
    studying establishment
    of evening coaching for.
    junior ones or pupils.
    preparing for common.
    entrance examination or.
    for junior waec, waec,
    jamb, neco , etc.
    *COMMUNICATIVE
    SKILLS: communication
    is different from.
    speaking communication
    is the act of sending.
    and recieving ideas.
    between two or more.
    people.
    People are employed in.
    broadcasting station
    because they
    communicate and
    express ideas better.
    than others.
    As a student we can.
    develop our
    communicative skills
    when we take.
    leadership roles in:
    i. Literary and debating.
    society.
    ii. Social clubs such as.
    junior chamber, in or.
    church and mosques,
    local communities
    football clubs etc.
    we should be bold, self.
    confidence and
    courageous to face.
    audience.
    * Artists skills: this has.
    to do with creativity.
    ability even imaginary.
    objects.
    This starts when we.
    made ourselves
    available in cultural and.
    creative art classes. We
    can develop the skill by.
    participating in cultural.
    and creative art.
    competition festival and.
    the tiles interest in.
    artists and also pay.
    attention to what they.
    do and how they do.
    things
    * Life coping skills.
    * Manipulative skills.
    Am sure with this you.
    will be prepare for.
    greater future
    challenges
    By OLAWALE DAVID.
    OYINLADE Director of.
    Y, HOTW

  6. Youth, Hope of the.
    world
    youth empowerment
    simply means self.
    employment or self.
    sufficiency.
    We Nigerian youth that.
    were still schooling we.
    can still engage our.
    selves in activities that.
    can make us to be self.
    reliance and productive,
    both academically and.
    finacially. Instead of
    wasting our precious.
    time and depending on.
    others, or engaging our.
    selves in suspicious act.
    or embarassing things.
    that we cant even be.
    boast of in the society.
    We can invest that time.
    by learnin one skills or.
    the other.
    There are so many skills.
    that we youth can.
    acquire while schooling.
    *INTELLECTUAL SKILLS:
    this skills can be.
    acquired through
    academic learning and.
    studying establishment
    of evening coaching for.
    junior ones or pupils.
    preparing for common.
    entrance examination or.
    for junior waec, waec,
    jamb, neco , etc.
    *COMMUNICATIVE
    SKILLS: communication
    is different from.
    speaking communication
    is the act of sending.
    and recieving ideas.
    between two or more.
    people.
    People are employed in.
    broadcasting station
    because they
    communicate and
    express ideas better.
    than others.
    As a student we can.
    develop our
    communicative skills
    when we take.
    leadership roles in:
    i. Literary and debating.
    society.
    ii. Social clubs such as.
    junior chamber, in or.
    church and mosques,
    local communities
    football clubs etc.
    we should be bold, self.
    confidence and
    courageous to face.
    audience.
    * Artists skills: this has.
    to do with creativity.
    ability even imaginary.
    objects.
    This starts when we.
    made ourselves
    available in cultural and.
    creative art classes. We
    can develop the skill by.
    participating in cultural.
    and creative art.
    competition festival and.
    the tiles interest in.
    artists and also pay.
    attention to what they.
    do and how they do.
    things
    * Life coping skills.
    * Manipulative skills.
    Am sure with this you.
    will be prepare for.
    greater future
    challenges
    By OLAWALE DAVID.
    OYINLADE Director of.
    Y, HOTW

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