CHANGING THE WORLD: WITHOUT MONEY BUT WITH GESTURES

During one of the Miss Ghana Pageantry, a contestant was asked how she was going to change or make an impact on society and the world at large in winning the pageantry. In answer, she started talking about how she was going to solicit for funds to carry out her mandate. One of the judges said something that day which I still carry around and do share with people whenever the opportunity comes and the need arises. She said: “One does not necessarily need money to make an impact on someone’s life. It can just be smile”. Yes, it can just be a smile, simple and insignificant as it may be, is sometimes all that a person needs from you.

Have you for once ever thought about the true worth of some simple gestures to people?

It can be a smile. It can be paying a little more attention to a friend’s problem or needs. It can be offering your shoulder for someone to lean or cry on. It can be a nod of head in appreciation or recognition. It can even be a stare in someone’s direction, a stare saying I can see you, and I know you are there. It can be a visit. It can be lending a helping hand. It can be providing shelter, food, clothes and even water to drink. It can be a simple phone call. It can be a few words of kindness, encouragement. It can be a little patience, laughter or even tears.

Clearly, these are the few things most of us can easily do or give out to help each other and to make life easy for one another although we take them for granted. There is power in every gesture. You may never know the life you have saved from any one of these gestures.

These are just what it takes to change the world and make an impact on someone’s life. Although to some extent some of these gestures listed earlier on requires some money e.g. shelter, clothing and food, there are others however, that do not require money. Even with those that require money, there are many people in the position to help but prefer to look on unconcerned.

How much will it cost to be a true friend? How much will it cost to make a little time to listen to and share in a friend’s problems? How much will it cost to smile? How much will it cost to laugh? How about an advice? How much will it cost to lower the stiff neck and acknowledge the one passing by? What is that frown you keep wearing for? What about your arrogance and prejudice, what do you gain from that? Yes, as the judge said during that pageantry, the little gestures we over look are the very things that can make a difference in someone’s life.

 Someone has spent an entire lifetime of unhappiness waiting for a little bit of recognition, for just an acknowledgement from you. Just calling out the name of a subordinate can be all that he or she wants from you as a boss. Your fist is always clenched up tight but the man standing next to you just needs a little handshake of congratulations, a little pat on the shoulder for a good job done, a clap to celebrate brilliance and a thumbs up to cheer him or her on. The little boy or girl looking at you just wants you to smile at him or her, that child wants you to pick him up and carry him in your arms. The nice and sweet voice you have is all that someone needs to hear expressing some few words of encouragement and advice, to sing some sweet melodies or lullabies to sooth the friend who needs to be comforted or the little child to be soothed. Someone just needs you to listen to his problems, not even for an advice but just to listen. These are all gestures, the very gestures we take for granted.

In life, we always make money the priority in all that we do and that has always been the limitation for most people with potentials to succeed. Who said money is the key to happiness, good health and long life? In some ways, money determines or influences these but is it the ultimate? Whenever we fail to lend a helping hand, the quick response is: “I do not have money, if I had, I would help”.

Clearly, most of us are mistaken about issues of money. Money is only of value based on the value we assign it. We are all born and endowed with inner gifts and strengths that surpass the value of money but unfortunately, most of us have not been able to tap into these resources. We always try to create barriers or obstacles in our lives. Consciously or unconsciously, we always look for a reason not to do something, reasons not to attain our full potentials, in some cases, reasons not to succeed. We tend to worry about things that have not happened. Always asking the wrong questions; What if? Can I? Will I be able?

Instead of worrying, we should rather focus on or think about what we can do to attain success, happiness or fulfillment in our lives. Remember, true happiness and fulfillment does not come from money or wealth. Some well-to-do people can confirm this.

We should learn to find joy and peace in whatever we do. All fingers are not equal. Someone has to be at the top and someone at the bottom but that does not matter as long as you feel fulfilled, happy and content wherever you are in the hierarchy.

We ought to learn to be happy with our work and strive to make the best out of it. Whether a shoemaker, barber, painter, farmer, fisherman, iced water seller, messenger, porter, hunter, etc. be proud of that and do so diligently.  Although we usually fail to realize this or take it for granted, the least in the hierarchy is the most important. They make life easy and bearable for us all. Each person counts.

Instead of sitting idle and sulking about how demeaning and unrewarding your work is, look beyond that and carry about your duties diligently and be proud of that. Learn to respect the work that you do and others will also do likewise. Find fulfillment in your marriage, children, studies, religion, and occupation and put in your best. Instead of worry about how bad things are, how insignificant you are, how short, dark, fair, ugly, beautiful, rich or poor, look beyond that and identify what makes you truly happy and special.

In life, no one can make you happy, especially not money. It is all up to you. Whatever you do or fail to do ultimately contributes and results in your current and future situation. Let us learn to reflect on our lives whenever we can and find out if we are doing the right thing. We should find out what we want to do and where we want to be. Start from scratch and work at it and you will be surprised. It is normal to fall and to make mistakes but we ought to learn to quickly dust up ourselves and rise up more invigorated.

That is how we can change the world. Our country is facing a lot of crises and as citizens; we have an obligation to rectify this by correcting our personal ills. If we learn to look past our shortfalls, our differences and our limitations, we will see clearly who or what we can be and can do. Instead of walking around unconcerned and always waiting to receive or build up a huge pile of money before we take a step or do something about the situation in our lives, our families, our marriage, our work, our studies, our faith and most importantly our country, let us start from somewhere and take a first step. That tiny, weak and relatively insignificant step of a toddler eventually turns into huge, bold and remarkable footsteps.

It begins with a smile, a pat, a hug, a handshake, some words of comfort, working hard and showing commitment to ourselves, our families, our jobs, and our country and in all endeavours we find ourselves. We will indeed marvel at how far we can go.

Changing the world begins with you. It begins with me. It begins with us all. We need to learn to help each other and not to bring each other down. It is not always about money. It is about the little gestures we take for granted.

Smile more, laugh loudly, listen actively, advice freely, be committed to your work, marriage, friends and our motherland, Ghana. Be committed to yourself!