Happy holidays

I love being a Nigerian. A lot of us do not go on holidays and am not talking about those who can’t afford it. I am talking about those who can save towards it. Generally, we tend to be averse to rest and the ability to do nothing. A lot of times we find ourselves unable to function in retirement because we have never considered a holiday good investment. Instead we spend whatever savings we have on things fickle and things that would show us off as very important i.e Aso-ebi – some of which we cannot really afford – cars, a big house ,which we cannot maintain and the struggle for the rat race, positions, power, authority. So rather than go on holidays with our small savings, we choose to invest N50,000 on an Aso- ebi which if you have Fifty thousand naira in ten places is alright. However, more often than not we have N55,000 and we buy the Aso-ebi for N50,000! Smart thing to do; take just the head wrap for N10,000 and still have something to give the children a treat during the holidays.

Now let’s talk about holidays. What kind of holidays are we really talking about? Do we bankrupt our partners because we want to be like the Joneses and go to London? After London what next? Garri for the children? Inability to pay school fees? Debt with your travel agents, friends and family? What is it really that makes us try to be who we are not, living beyond our means and going to holiday destinations which we cannot afford? I am not been contradictory here. By all means go on holidays but ensure that it is Yankari Game Reserves if that’s what you can afford at this time or Oguta Lake resorts or Ikogosi springs. Or just live the country life in your village for a week with fresh food, fruits and vegetable. Aside from the fact that country side people think a city person has a lot of money to spend, it’s really not as complicated if they realise you do not have that kind of money. It’s just a simple life. You can choose to go to a friend’s village rather than yours.

But what really is a holiday? Is it partying from dawn to dusk? Is it carrying office work to your holiday destination? Is it getting drunk and falling about? A holiday is not any of these. It is your ability to actually do nothing for a couple of days; energising extreme happiness around you and your family, learning to bake, going water skiing and doing a lot of those things you have always wanted to do but never found the time including believe it or not-sleeping a lot. It also includes sitting by a body of water at dawn and listening to birds chirping. It includes watching the sun set and watching it rise. In addition to all of these, visiting a zoo and watching the animals do only what the animals can do. While at the zoo, its always important to take time to introspect. Why was I not created with four legs? Why do I not get angry and attack someone like some animals do? Why don’t I live in the wild like some animals do? Why do I have a bigger brain and more cognitive abilities than animals have? There are many things which God put in us to separate us from animals. Unfortunately many of us refuse to accept that we are not the same with animals and in a lot of cases, animals have shown more kindness than humans i.e. the guide dog, the pet cat, the homing pigeon and the parrot among others. Time to do some self analysing this season. As part of your holiday take a really good look at animals at the zoo and please make up your mind that you are a higher being.
When last did you spend good quality time with your family? Holiday time is a good time to apologise to your children for been so busy by staying home and renewing your relationships with them. If that Owambe/party is not really important, you shouldn’t go. If that wedding does not really concern somebody you are that close to, you can send a gift. Also because social events are so unnecessarily long in Nigeria with speech after speech and unending ceremonies. Not my idea of a holiday.

Apologise to your parents this season by visiting them wherever they are and taking a gift for goodness sake no matter how small. Do not leave visiting till it is too late then regret it. Sometimes it is just the visits urge parents want.  They don’t really care about your gift if they can see you. Apologise to your kids too, if you were wrong.

Go to a concert. Go to the movies. Take the family.

Remember the reason for the season. For Christmas – Jesus Christ. For New Year-all things new.

Happy holidays!

Eugenia Abu