chrisk.art.blog

The busy-ness of one to be better in furtherance of life, as was espoused by Abraham Maslow in his theory of needs; looking for basic necessity of life through to self-actualization, makes one to forget or neglect a change in their lives over time. Of course, discontentment will make one think he is not improving in life while unhealthy, unnecessary comparison of one’s life with others, likewise may breed such amnesia — of the little, and modest beginning of man.
Sitting, and traveling down the lane of memory, is reminiscent of old from whence we were young, and sometimes invoking imagery of forbearance, mix-feelings and delight.
I recollect clearly such moments; the days when bread was a luxury and a privilege to many of us—those who share geographical proximity and age with me. Eating bread was a rare privilege. If one was to get some bread to eat, it was either his or her relative had traveled down South, and had returned with bread or from somewhere else. We will sometimes queue, waiting in turns to be given just a crumb of the bread. This brought joy. It was not seldom to see others keep their crumbs of bread, postpone eating it and later eat them only when the rest had finished eating theirs, just to tease them.
Upon seeing a brother, sister, father or any relative descend from a rickety old bus, as so it was, we would race for their luggage and port them to the house. After, we lurked awhile, hoping to be given some bread. And the travelers never disappointed; depending on the number of children, they would cut the big bread into bits and shared them until it reached the last person. Only magic could help one to do this and still leave some bread for the family. If you ate bread from someone’s brother and it happened that you begrudge them, it will be used as a point of insult on you. Having no one in your family or in your area traveling down South could mean no taste of bread for twelve moons. There were some few roofs that ate bread as of then, as basic need but not luxury. In this present moment, grace and the urge to be better than selves, we may not own bakeries, bread too is not a privilege but a daily basic necessity of life. Such are little but significant changes in our lives that are most times left in oblivion.
Another thing that invokes both fun and misery is rice. Eating rice just like bread, it was once a privilege, only few homes ate it daily. Most of us ate rice twice in a year cycle: during Christmas and New year. If you were not lucky and your parents could not afford it, it meant you will eat outside by visiting others’ homes during these yuletides. The next few times some tasted rice is when one fell sick and did not have appetite for instance TZ that they get to eat rice.
Today, the story is vastly changed. We no more see rice and bread as privilege or luxury but as basic daily necessities of life just like those who hitherto could afford to have them.

These may look insignificant looking at how the world has moved on. However, a grateful heart will appreciate these little and humble beginnings. Casting the mind back reassures that one has achieved some success in bettering their lives.
As we look to better do more in our pursuits, so shall we acknowledge the things which have moulded us thus far. These little things, one cannot ignore.