Don’t Dull
Dear Son,
The phrase
“don’t dull” would probably no longer be in use when you read this. However, its
message is going to still be as potent as it was a few minutes ago when I
muttered the words and tapped this down for you. Simply put when someone (especially
a Nigerian) tells you “don’t dull”, he or she means ‘don’t slack’ or don’t erm
‘pussyfoot’ or don’t drag your feet. You get the drift?
In this
life, opportunities come regularly and while patience is a virtue procrastination
and sluggishness. A lot of people are 'dulling' and being sluggish letting
themselves to be passed over repeatedly by opportunities while deceiving
themselves that they are patient or that they don’t want to be reckless.
Granted, recklessness is never to be confused with risk, and patience pays.
However life without risks is a big disappointment. I too used to love playing
it safe, I used to have a lot of grand ideas I shared with friends when I was younger
but I was perhaps too scared (or lazy?) to work on achieving. If I hadn’t
dulled, I’d probably had been a multimillionaire a lot earlier before you were
born.
Many people
are stuck in their present state not because they do not have what it takes to improve
but because they are lazy, or they are waiting for perfect conditions and as
you know there are hardly perfect conditions in life. In the Book of Proverbs there’s mention of a fool who uses the excuse of a lion in the streets
for his laziness, this is how ridiculous it gets. I too have made a lot of
excuses for not being up and taking action so much I’ve lost out on making
meaningful relationships and seizing great opportunities. Other times I lost
out because I took too long to decide, taking too long to decide is equally
dulling.
Wait, did I
gist you about what transpired between a very yellow pawpaw and I? I think I
even wrote about it somewhere, check it here. Let me give you another story of
how I lost out on something because I dulled. A conference was supposed to
hold, and part of what was required to register was an International Passport.
Now about the same period, I read that the nearest passport office to me had
maltreated a lady badly (read it here). I was scared to go and get it there, lest
I get beaten up too haha. Meanwhile, time was going o. It happened that when I
eventually went to get the passport done, I had about a month to registration
deadline. Sadly I couldn’t make the delegates list for the conference, why?
When the coordinator called for my passport, it wasn’t ready. Thus my chance was
blown. The agency in charge of making
the passport was hopelessly inept, I got my passport after 30 days instead of
7. Moral of the story: had I put aside unfounded fear aside, I might had
probably applied for and gotten my passport earlier and in time to make the
delegates list in spite of the crass ineptitude and corruption of the passport
office.
Just bear
these at the back of your mind; Laziness kills, Do not take too long deciding
whether to do or not (do not rush either), avoid Procrastination, do not be
afraid, take acceptable risks while not being reckless. Most importantly before
making any decision properly weigh the pros and cons, and don’t forget to pray
and seek God’s guidance. I lost many investments and nearly never asked your
mother out because I didn’t follow my own advice. Thank God for his mercies,
and I think you should also thank your mother for her, her, err humility and
let’s just say ‘wisdom’.
We learn
every day; I hope you’ve learnt something.
Plenty love,
Your Dad
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