WHO WRITING EPP?!
Florence looked into thin air, head slightly bent down, one
thumb rubbing aimlessly on her other thumb. I know her outward appearance was
nothing compared to what she was feeling deep inside. She finally cleared her
throat, and continued our conversation.
“I’m studying Industrial Chemistry presently but I don’t
have an iota of passion for it. I love to write and writing is the number one
thing that gives me joy. Sometimes, I lock myself away from the world and write
away for hours. Nothing else can take that much of my time. I’m single now
though, so I don’t know how it’ll be when I have a partner, since he’ll also
need a portion of my time and attention.”
“That’s great!” I replied “As a writer myself, I love it
when young minds say these things. It means there are still solid go-getters in the
creative space.”
For the first time during our conversation, she looked me in
the eyes. Her eyes looked forlorn, and they were full of questions.
“But I don’t think I want to write anymore. My friends are
telling me to be serious and realistic with my life. They say writing is not a
lucrative field and I can’t be as financially comfortable as I want to be. They
said even though I’m a good writer, while my mates are working in banks, oil
and gas firms, building & construction companies, health, insurance, and
the rest, I’ll be scribbling words that people may not even read. Also they
said…”
She went on and on, pouring out all she had held up inside
and I sat there attentively, patiently waiting for her to finish her very valid
epistle. It was a very long epistle of someone with skepticism in the efficacy
of her passion.
“Florence, if what you studied in school should solely and strictly
determine how rich you become, would you have studied Industrial Chemistry?”
“I don’t think so”
“What then would you have studied?” I asked, resting back in
my seat.
“Banking and Finance… Maybe” She replied with a slight
giggle.
“Excellent reply. But do you know why bankers aren’t the
richest people in the world?”
“Err… Why?”
“Simply because according to my personal stat and from close
interaction and observation, 80% of bankers don’t even know how they ended up
there, what they’re still doing there, or when they’ll leave there. Cash isn’t
money to them but tools of the trade. Just the same way a lot of people, due to
pressure have turned themselves into professional robots, dying slowly from the
routine, living solely for month end.
We live in a world where a lot of fishes are up in the sky
with borrowed wings, praying and yearning for water; and a lot of birds are
deep down in the waters, drowning and gasping for air. A wise man once told me –
You don’t want to get to the top of your career ladder, only to realize it has
been placed against the wrong wall.
Florence, your friends, just like the society have lied!
Look at people like John Grisham, Stephen King, James Patterson and “Mummy” J.K.
Rowling and see the truth. Exactly what makes you tick, should make you rich.
Fan that little fire of your passion. Fan it so hard and make the whole world feel the
heat. Hope that answers your question”
To every Florence out there – Go and build a business around
your passion, so you understand how it feels, being paid to do “nothing”.
Mature Minds Talk.
Loved this!!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your comment Chideraza. :)
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