A few days ago, while scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled on a video of Samuel L. Jackson during an interview and he said something that has stuck to me ever since. He shared a quote that went thus; “Be careful of the toes you step on today because they might be connected to the a*s you have to kiss tomorrow”.
No matter how we look at it, this is one undisputable fact of life. No one knows tomorrow and the people we look down on today can be in a position to change our lives tomorrow. If they’re not directly in the position, they could be connected in a crucial way that would make all the difference in our lives.
These days, it’s so easy to look down on others, especially those who we deem are beneath us. Many of us have no issues stepping on others and using them as stepping stones towards our own dreams and aspirations. We forget that tides can change in just a second and then we might find ourselves needing help from the very people we’ve been putting down.
It’s funny how a simple mention of your name in the right ear can change your life. That might be all that is needed for you to achieve everything that you ever wanted. But then, some people will never do that. As long as they don’t see anything they’re benefitting at the moment, they’d find it hard to help others rise. There are people to whom the phrase, “we rise by lifting others” doesn’t make any sense at all because for them the only way they can feel like they’ve risen is by keeping everyone around them beneath them.
But then, such things can’t go on forever, can it? Miracles happen and stories change. Life has this way of unfolding in a manner we can’t even predict. You might end up finding out you need the help of someone from your past and your relationship with them will determine how they’ll act with you.
This is why it’s always good to just be good for goodness sake. Don’t be a good person because you want to go to heaven, don’t be a good person because you hope to curry favor from someone. Just be good because it is good to be good. Nothing more and nothing less. You’ll find out that there are more blessings attached to this than when you do it with an agenda in mind.
Back home in Lagos, a neighbor I know was one of the sweetest souls. The guy is kind to everyone, no matter their status. He always has a smile for everyone and he’s one of those who enjoys calling people “Boss” and “Oga”, no one was left out, even bikers and petty traders. And as a result of this, he usually had a lot of friends. There’s no street this guy went that someone didn’t know him. It was impossible. He barely trekked because he would always see a bike man who would be willing to give him a ride for free.
It all came to a head one night when he was almost robbed, but to his shock, one of the robbers recognized him and called him “one of their own”. They let him go without taking anything at all. This sounds like a movie, but it actually happened. The funny thing though, he didn’t recognize the robber who claimed to recognize him. He saw the face and heard the voice, but it wasn’t something that my neighbor was familiar with. Either way, he thanked his stars and hurried home before he met with some less friendly bunch.
This story made me realize why doing good was important. This was because people remember you longer for what you do for them than you remember what you’ve done for people. Can you remember every single time you’ve done good for people? You probably can’t because it’s been a lot. However, if we bring one of those people and ask them to list out everything you’ve ever done for them, they’ll be able to call it all.
No one is asking you to break the bank, all I’m asking is for you to be nice. If you see how rude some people are to bike riders and Uber drivers, you’ll pity these guys. I know that some of these people are rude as well and deserve some sharp tongue every now and then, but it makes no sense when a person is being rude for no reason at all except the fact that you feel bigger than them. People won’t forget that.
Be kind to those around you, feel free to greet people, and have a smile handy. You have no idea what these things will do for you in the future. Let’s just be good for goodness sake.
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This is so true
It's good to be good apart from the fact that it pays.
Some people are so rude and wicked that they derive joy from hurting someone. Some others are just naturally friendly.
If not for the friendly nature of your neighbor, it would have been another story entirely. He may be robbed and even stabbed.
Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading.
Yes ooo... we never can really tell how things go for us. One way or the other, everything will always come back to us.
Yes
The guy's story is something that has happened in my vicinity before and this guy was saved because of his kind heart.
Looking down on people is a terrible thing to do and I don't encourage the act not just because we don't know tomorrow but because it's not just a good habit.
Table turns and life can happen to anyone in a jiffy, it's important that we treat everyone with respect.
Table turns ooo, and it's usually in a way that one would never expect. Truly, no one knows tomorrow.
So interesting to see the pictures of your surroundings, these bovines in the middle of the road hehe.
I heard a similar story in Brazil hehe, stories with robbers are very common and stories that should be told are tons of them. Heard people being avoided to be robbed because they were neighbors ...
Yeah... such only happens when they like the neighbours. If not, it won't change anything for them.
Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad you like my pictures.😊
Life is unpredictable and anything can happen anytime. We should try to keep doing good work because somehow directly or indirectly the favourite return to us in different ways. I have noticed it many times. The story of the person is a lesson for us.
Yeah... a big lesson indeed..
We all must take heed.
I have seen in my surroundings that people who are powerful order those who are less than them. It is very good to convert to Islam from passers-by. It improves relationships. And that person remembers you with good wishes. And he can also come to help when needed