little over a year ago, I conducted an extensive research on why people die prematurely. My resources spanned from the lives of Princess Diana, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Archbishop Benson Idahosa and Myles Munroe to Tunde Okonkwo Abdullahi (an unknown person whose death you and I witnessed on social media but didn't miss an hour of sleep on it).
Some of my core findings are that people don't like to discuss something so obvious as death! While it is extremely painful to lose someone close because of emotional ties to the person, it is a temporary shock to people who fall into a second category I'd like to call "outsiders" or others (especially if the deceased isn't that close with a void that cannot be filled by anything else). Our human nature finds it alien to let go of a loved one who dies; the truth however is that in most cases, outsiders will move on shortly after the shock is over (irrespective of the life that was lost).
At times like this when most Nigerians will debate the underlying reason(s) for the successive demise of two nationally renowned and beloved coaches in the same week, the bottom line is that they will all move on in a matter of days to the next trending news item because the emotional tie (such as exists in families and closely knit friendship) doesn't apply in their case. Nothing to be ashamed of, it's called human nature!
Being a nation that is deeply entrenched in the supernatural (faith and traditional), it's not uncommon to seek a scapegoat in such seemingly unnatural circumstances. I say "seemingly" because death is indeed a natural course of events!
Think about this ... While some have blamed the death of these two talented coaches on President Buhari's "change" agenda, others have accused rival African football nations and whatever could be concocted (no matter how inconceivably unreasonable they may sound). As I write, I bet there are still some who would love to pin this one on either APC, PDP or Jonathan all the way in Otuoke. As humorous as it may seem, I've come to always expect something ingenuous from our people who will seek every opportunity to blame someone for something we won't accept or are unwilling to research and comprehend. That my friends is fear speaking!
What's going on is not a phenomenon that is unique to any nation, tribe or creed. Recent research shows that 83% of recent deaths worldwide occur accidentally or prematurely. Untimely death was defined as a pre-70 years old demise. It's even higher in the United States at 85% with heart disease, cancer and vehicular accidents among the top causes. Yet, no one hears or cares about much of it because the deceased person(s) are not famous, friends or family (like the pseudo name mentioned, Tunde Okonkwo Abdullahi). Even when they do hear about it, nothing changes because there's no connection emotionally or socially. It's just another death and life goes on.
That's at least 4 of every 5 people die before age 70 (and this has nothing to do with faith or fiction but a fact). If Americans should adopt the blame game approach, then we out to blame President Obama and his left-leaning politics for every death, right? Of course not because that would be absurd. It's called life and we must come to terms with its dynamic workings.
It is especially true today that people are dying much younger because they do not take care of themselves, don't eat right, don't exercise nor develop healthy habits. Instead they allow themselves to be emotionally distraught by every fleeting wind, over indulge in pleasures and fail to take life seriously by honoring the laws that govern longevity. Faith, confessions and finances alone won't keep you living, ask the filthy rich that have died young. There's more that needs to be done daily to live long because the average human life expectancy has continually declined in recent years and is still in accelerated decline. The real question here is, what will you do about it?
The truth is that 99.9% of people alive today are concerned about death (when, how, where, why etc.) because they are uncertain as to what comes afterwards. It's not the concept of death itself that scares us, its the outcome of the transition which most don't understand that petrified us. Self preservation is an inborn trait that every human has. It's unnatural not to fear death but it must never manage your life. It drives us to unconsciously live our entire days actively working out how to avoid death even though the end is inevitable. While we all want to live long and leave a mark on the earth, death should not be something to fear. Learn, love and live for God!
Have you ever wondered what could drive a person to plunge an airplane full of men, women and children from the sky into a crater on the ground? What motivates anyone to blow themselves up knowing there's no spare life? It's called a belief in purpose. A radical belief in something larger, bigger and greater than oneself. We may deny, dodge, defend or delay it but the truth is that death is a guaranteed end for all of us. It is the one absolute thing that none of us can change but need to embrace with the full decision of striving daily to make a mark. Determine to leave a legacy on earth before your time is up. Keshi and Amodu have made their mark, what about you?
Rather than bickering over baseless assumptions, perhaps it's an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and ask the questions that could help us (by Divine providence) to make a difference in life and live long (70+). Personally, I think a long life that is doing nothing to improve the quality of the lives of others by pursuing a meaningful purpose is just a mere existence occupying space and wasting the breath of God.
In summary, take the time to live by:
- Worry less about things outside your control
- Think positively about life
- Love others
- Exercise often
- Eat healthy
- Serve others
- Pay attention to your health needs
#privatetransformation #whoisdala #life #death #purpose
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