There are lessons that are embedded in particular life
journey that you'll never get if you do not embark on that path. I say so. I'll
tell you why.
Easter Sunday dawned
bright and beautiful and although I had wanted to sleep longer because it was a
work free day, my body still woke up at the usual time. So I closed my eyes and
just lounged for a bit. However,
excitement got me out of bed in no time. We were scheduled for a picnic which
turned out to be an excursion to the Olumirin waterfalls Erin Ijesha.
Erin Ijesha is in Erin Oke community of Osun state. Rightly
it should be a great tourist attraction. The beautiful waterfall and the
mountains speak for themselves but sadly, it seems the Osun state government
isn't aware of its enormous potentials. The road leading to it is in a state of
terrible disrepair. The houses are shadows of themselves, reek of abandonment
and despair.
As true zealots we started out in a bid to see the source of
the waterfall and were succinctly informed it's on the seventh level. Fueled
by excitement, desire to conquer new terrains and encouragement of peers, we
left. Some people had babies strapped to their sides - such was the euphoria of
mountain climbing-they were told to go back.
As the way became steeper, they listened.
At the end of level two the crowd had dwindled down to just
a handful of people. By the third level, we became fewer still. On the fifth
level I could only distantly see one person in front of me and no other behind,
after some long moments of solitude, I encountered some people coming back who
said the journey was pointless and encouraged me to go back down.
At the sixth level, I met more coming back down and then all
of a sudden I was on my own. Complete eerie aloness.
I got to the almighty seventh level eventually.
When I saw the names inscribed on the floor by others who'd
made this same journey at one point or the other I was encouraged. At this
point my solitude was palpable. I got tired at some points and at others I could
barely feel the pain in my body. My feet were now in auto walk. They just kept
moving while my mind roamed. The seventh level seemed to be an unending level.
During this my solitary moments on the mount, many life truths crystallized in
my heart.
I realized that it
was natural to start out life with a lot of people: family, friends, colleagues
but as your life journey progresses the crowd dwindles. You lose some to death,
marriage, misunderstandings, differing interests...endless reasons actually but
your journey is yours and you must see it to the end.
My father says that life is an invitation to courage and
truly it is.
You have to be courageous to have your own opinions, know
what is right, live your truth and stick to your guns even when it's not the
fad thing to do.
