The Transitoriness of Life and Life’s Events
“Nothing is too precious to occupy the centre stage of people’s admiration for a long time. Things come and go in the same manner. The world we are in is filled with multiple activities, rolling out into limelights and receding into obscurity too soon. What attracted the attention of people, causing frenzy, predilection, idolization, etc, becomes in a few months or years what nobody would like to touch or pay attention to,” so declared Jarlath Opara. Today, let’s reflect on the transient nature of life and life’s events.
Do you know that life and the events associated with it trend and give way to new events so fast? Unlike what many would wish, the reality is that positions, social status, news headlines, show of force, abuse of power, etc are ephemeral and so transient that nothing seems worth anchoring one’s life on. Empires come, and empires go. Old presidents give way to new ones. Those who commanded yesterday are onlookers today, and those that wield thunderous power today may be victims of similar power tomorrow. And all these happen in quick successions. Today, a Joseph is trending. Tomorrow may come a Pharaoh that knows no Joseph. As Opara once wrote, “There are times for everything. There are seasons. Once a season comes, one would reign and trend. It becomes folly and delusional to feel that the same way one trends, is valued and appreciated by all would remain so unending. After climax comes a decending move towards non-recognition… Such is life’s reality.”
So, enhance your capacity to recognize and appropriately deal with the reality of the transitoriness of life. Are you trending for something positive? Savour the feelings while it lasts. Are you making headlines for the wrong reason? Pick the lessons and know that in no distant time, new events will make your headlines outdated. Are you in the position of authority? Maximize it for human good and be conscious that the only constant thing about life is change. Know that by resisting change or wanting to trend unendingly, you place yourself on the path of a rolling stone, and no matter how strong you are, time will weaken your strength and turn your popularity to notoriety. As Opara counselled, “Be humble, nobody trends at all times! Be humble, life is transient! Be humble, the emptiness of life is in its brevity! Be humble, what seems valued and appreciated today may be the rag of tomorrow! Be humble, what drives one crazy today may be one’s tomorrow’s scrap! Be humble, no situation is permanent. The only thing that is permanent is change. It comes with flexibility, blowing like a wind where it wills. Be humble, even what is trending would one day stop trending!”
As you step out today, never allow what you are to blind you to what you may become tomorrow. Be wise while you’re in control and trending today, knowing that you’ll certainly and unavoidably give way to someone else tomorrow.
__
Prof. (Engr.) Esang Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registed chemical engineer, public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, certified management consultant, World Safety Organization Ambassador, recognized Environmental Ambassador, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for some international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He is a manager in the oil and gas industry and was recognized by Highstone Global University, USA as the occupational health and safety personality of 2024. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
