Tafa Osisiye: Things I Learned in 2014

I could tell you about how the roads to my house are bad and what the NEPA man said to me, but this post is not about that. There are people that write about that.

In 2014, I took politics a bit more seriously. I understood that we could not have nuclear reactors and be a developed country in one day… so we have to make do with baby steps. Life has been easier that way. I appreciate every new borehole sunk, every mall constructed, every block on block that will at least provide something for the next man. Nigeria is easier that way.

My first day on the new job, the Security Officer looked at me and said ‘Welcome to **** Bank, we love you. There is no parking space’ and that was it. That encounter has defined my new job. I have experienced what is called ‘Bank Love’. Banks could be warm but they have rules, man and those rules don’t bend for no Babylon. But it has made me search deep within and well, all learning is good.

I left the Technology industry and for the first time, I can stand from outside and talk about things as a consumerist. I can complain about my Kindle not integrating with the Pocket app, the absence of an aluminum encased Samsung phone and stuff like that. It’s good to be on the outside and think about how technology can change the Nigerian landscape. I like what it has done for my generation, the spate of interconnectedness and possibilities. I no longer need to buy a new shirt, spray some cologne to get a girl. All I need to do is put out some dope tweets and that is the new ‘attractive’. I am excited that this potential of interconnectedness can be put into development. We have examples of social media translating into physical crowd sourced activities like the Twitter Premier League and TNC events. This is my generation. A generation I am proud to be part of and it is exciting to see what we are doing with technology.

I can mess up sha. The painful type like a free kick; Defence lined up in front, protecting their crotches. Team mates waiting for the loose ball and then, Muscle pull. I have learnt to embrace these because at the end, mistakes show us who we aren’t and your lowest point could be your moment of clarity so I won’t complain about lost money or cracked screens.

I also got to embrace being broke. The broke part of me is the wisest version of myself. That is when I start to ask philosophical questions: Why go to TFC twice when we can cook soup? Do we really need AC in the car?

In 2014, loneliness became a place, something I could walk into and tell you the colour of its walls. It’s actually a mix of pink with soft grays and slightly damp walls. You know, the kind of loneliness experienced by one in a big city where there’s a traffic jam, but you are alone in your car, windows wound up, doors manually locked, playing the latest Asa album. The one where you celebrate victories by opening a bottle of red alone, or giving your dog an extra helping of Jo-Jo lamb sauce.

In 2014, I learnt gratitude. I’m thankful, man.

In 2015, I just wanna be more deliberate, man. And more thankful. I wanna be like the leper that came back to say Thank You. I wanna look at these things and understand they were not here before, identify my objects of gratitude, yeah that kind of thing.

I don’t know why Bella Naija keeps tolerating me. On every post, I write, I keep shifting the publication date for my book.

It has been published now but I’ve not put it in book stores. I’m not yet ready to be a writer. See, in preparation of being a writer, I made a checklist of things to get: Ray Bans, keep bushy hair (like Prof), wear ankara print shapeless blouses, write with pencil instead of biro and pause after every sentence. I have gotten everything except the bushy hair. My hair is still growing and what is worth doing is…? Good.

See you next year.