How Life Teaches Us

Oh, I lost my bag and lot of valuable items. 😭😭

Last year, during one of my travels, from Ijebu Ode to Ibadan, I forgot one of my bags in the vehicle that conveyed me.

I found out really late that the bag was missing. Although I took prompt action immediately I discovered. I returned to the park and spent two days or thereabout searching for my bag, traveling back to Ijebu Ode and returning disappointed to Ibadan.

I had a scheduled nutrition speaking-event in Ibadan, which actually prompted my initial travel at the time.  But the issue of my missing bag took me completely off guard, I had to communicate to the organizers very late that I wouldn't be available due to unforeseen circumstances.

I started asking myself what came over me. "But Oluwadurotimi, what came over you?", "You're smarter than this".
My close buddies kept asking me "How come?"

The most annoying part for me was that I've had a very similar experience of such in the past, although then I recovered my item. But this time, it was as though I needed to relearn.

And really, I believe God made me experience that so I could pay attention to one of my weaknesses.

I get so lost in my future steps that I lose track of the present. If you see me in a room sitted, I'm either calculating the next one hour, three days or even planning an event I'm looking forward to in five months time.

I literally have my plans for the next month set up in my head long before the month approaches. That's the kind of person I am. So visionary, to a fault!

But true wisdom actually has many subsets. Looking from an angle, there is foresight, insight, hindsight and onsight. And I personal see these four as elements of wisdom.

The first three is commonly spoken of, but that last one, 'onsight' is such a rare strength. And if you have it, know that you have a very great virtue.

Foresight is the ability to take a peep into the future and position yourself for what lies ahead. I know I'm naturally strong on this.

Hindsight on the other hand enables you to draw lessons from previous experiences and happenings and using such to your advantage as you forge ahead. I make use of this as well a lot.

Insight helps you to think deeply on a matter until you hit a gold mine of inspiration and rare wisdom. I'm still growing on this particular one.

Onsight enables you to mount a terrain you never had a previous knowledge or sight of. It helps you focus on the moment and pay attention to detail. I'm naturally not strong on this.

Ever since I had that unpleasant experience of mine, I discovered that I truly learnt better. Leadership demands that we continually work on ourselves and be intentional about emerging better versions of ourselves.

My mindset towards the experience was lesson-oriented not regretful. I learnt a valuable lesson, I regret nothing. I just feel that the experience was necessary so my weakness won't cost me something bigger in the future.

In all your getting, get 'onsight', so you don't need to have an experience like mine in any way.

In conclusion, when things don't go as planned, when the unexpected happens. Position yourself to be quick to learn and slow to blame. That way, you would reduce the chances of repeated errors.

Life is a teacher. And if you fail to learn a particular lesson, repeating the class sometimes and oftentimes happen.

Trust you learnt something! 🥰
Oluwadurotimi Okediji.