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| Vic on the left trying to compare my height to hers. |
I took this photo during the 20th Anniversary of KNUST Food Festival, organized by the Department of Food Science and Technology at the Parade Ground. This was a day when all students in the department, including those from other colleges, came together to have a look at the recipes of other students who were making new discoveries. On this day and during the programme, a lot of things actually had happened that morning, which I suppose had to make me sad, but I still had to keep the smile on. That is what this post is meant to do. To encourage you to find happiness no matter where you find yourself or what bothers you.
The Incidents That Transpired That Day
As I got up early in the morning this day, the first thing I did was grab my phone, which was just beneath my pillow. Turning on the screen, I saw that I had missed three calls from my dad, and this was somewhat unusual. I called back immediately, where he had told me my little brother and admitted to the hospital, and the family was contributing to the hospital bills.
As the elder sister, what was I supposed to do? I sent my last money in my wallet via Mobile Money. Meaning, my day was going to be a long one without cash and a bit of hunger. I know someone out there at this moment may not have a pesewa nor a cent on themselves today. If you happen to be reading this post, just follow along; you can still be happy.
After the early call and the bankruptcy of my wallet, I got up, took my bath, and off I set to the programme because of its urgency and the academic benefits that came with it. I still had taken my purse on the bed, kept it in my handbag, although I knew the only important things in them was the lens, the AirPods, and a handkerchief.
I went there to learn, and that was what I was doing until I received a call from my mum. That call was the moment when the second confusion and frustration came in. Already, I was starving, but this time around, it was my AirPods.
The place was noisy. Already, the large amount of noise from the speaker caused me to talk so loudly so the closest person to me would be able to hear my voice. The people around us had to talk at the top of their voices to be heard by others, so imagine making a call in the atmosphere. And no matter how far I would have walked away from the programme to hear my mum's voice over the phone, it was going to be hard and take a lot of time.
I was looking for these AirPods, but still hadn't located them. Who knows, someone might have removed them from the bag. In fact, that was the moment when my emotions became weaker. She had no other option but to hang up, and I was already incapable of hearing the important thing she wanted to tell me.
The worst encounter of that day was nothing more than just a little misunderstanding when I mistakenly stepped on the foot of a lady who was behind me in the crowd. Her attitude and reaction, and the words that came out of her mouth, even after I said sorry, were so painful that I had nothing much to do but walk away with my friends. The day had just seemed to be going bad, and where I was supposed to gain new knowledge, the distractions became many.
In The Midst of It All
In the midst of all this, I still hard to pull myself up. I did not want my weak emotions to show on my face. I had to be strong and give no room for tears to drain down my cheeks. The burden was heavy on my heart to cry, but hey, I have been through a lot than that moment.
I didn't have to talk or worry too much, but to act like nothing had really gone wrong during my day. You know, it is hard to pretend, but sometimes in the crowd, a good preference is all you have to do. Imagine finding yourself in the midst of such chaos, should I have burst into tears and cried my heart out, who knows the number of people who would turn on their camera and record me and make me a trend on campus.
They might even caption it as, "cry cry baby" or "the girl who cries" or sort of things they will call it. And that alone will hurt even more. So that was the moment to be stronger, to take photos with friends, to laugh and giggle, and stay true to my inner peace. This is a real-life experience that has taught me to remain calm and strong even when it feels like I am in the midst of the storm.
This One Is For You
I personally do not know what you may be going through right now, but right here, I just want to use this opportunity to encourage you. This is a training I had during my peer counseling volunteering on campus, to use my life experience as an example to encourage others and to let them know I have been through the same before.
This is to say that no matter what you are going through, how delicate it may be or as hard as a nut impossible to crack, just stay strong. Always stay strong and know that no situation is ever permanent.
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| Me still happy a day after the painful incident |
You see, I am sure if it were someone else, they would still hold on to the past incident that had happened to them days, weeks, or months ago. They will be sad, frown, and barely put up a smile. It does not have to be so; that is why, for me, all I do is smile over and over again. Because it brightens the environment where I am.
A few things you can do to lighten up your mood.
You know, sometimes it is very unbearable, and I am not so naive as to not know that. What can you do when you can't take it anymore?
- Leave the place if you think it is unwelcoming.
- Talk to a friend around you, if it is someone you know you can trust.
- Do what you like doing best. Reading books or listening to music keeps me calm, and can do the same for you.
How to find happiness wherever you find yourself. What worked for me.
Truly finding happiness wherever I find myself hasn't always been that simple. The beginning is hard, but here are a few things I finally mastered, which you can also:
- I did not think much about my problems, but rather about ways to find a quick solution to them.
- I always cheered myself up by watching funny videos online if the moment deserved it.
- My secrets became my own because of the many loose lips around me.
- I enjoyed having company with my hobby because it has always been my best companion.
So whether you need to swim to cheer up, watch a soccer match, go out for sightseeing, or just call someone to talk to, just remember to stay happy no matter where you find yourself.
