Weighed down by debts for all I gathered
Bugged for want of all I want to get
I dragged my head around, sad, hoping
For the day I will achieve my dreams
“Then I’ll have enough reasons to be happy,”
I said until I saw them, tatter clothes and naked
Worn shoes and none, thatched houses and no roof
Over their heads, with very little to nothing
Relishing life like they owned the world: I woke up
From this civilized nightmare that claims we must
Have it all to be happy: happiness, after all is a choice
Despite what we have or lack, or where we are in life.

I stumbled upon a video posted some weeks back on Facebook by Attitude Post titled “Africa, kingdom of happiness!!!” It was primarily a bunch of African kids dancing their hearts away with such energy and joy oozing from every part of their being. Someone could say, “So what? Kids dance everywhere every day?” Well, you have to look deeper to see and appreciate what I saw.

We live in a world where clothes are ripped in the name of fashion. Some of these kids have no shirts on. Not because they don’t like one. While our wardrobes are overflowing, many of these children lack necessities, clothing included. Every ripped, undersized and oversized clothing you see is not a fashion statement- that is the reality of their everyday lives. Clothes torn and still very much in use for want of better replacements.

At the background, the houses were shacks. The ground on which they were dancing was dusty. Many of them probably have never seen paved roads and walkways and playgrounds. The instruments they were strumming were pieces of discarded items that are gathered and forced to produce sounds they can dance to. Very much unlike so many of us, these children and their impoverished families have nothing to boast about, probably not much to wake up everyday for. Still, there they were, have been and always will be, full of joy as they danced their hearts away.

They truly do not have anything to their names but they have life, family and friends they can play and dance with. They have health and energy to spare after tedious hard day jobs that some of them must endure. They have peace of mind with no need to worry about being robbed or losing what they do not have. Above all else, they have joy enough to stamp their feet on tough grounds and leap in the air laughing and celebrating the gift of life.

In times like this when complaints are piling and people are hurting from wanting, and hurting others for what they feel deprived of, these children and many more like them are perfect examples that nothing and nobody can snatch our joy except we surrender it. Happiness is a choice irrespective of what we have or don’t. There will always be reasons to be sad and mean but I hope that today and every other day going forward, you will always choose joy and happiness. And that you will teach your children that life is the greatest gift of all worth celebrating with every breath we take.
(To be continued August 14, 2020)

Blessings
Glory!