Social expectation: The plague of my generation

B y Ayobami Ogedengbe
|
We live in a world of “show off”, that’s why some of the richest youths are those in the showbiz – or at least they appear rich. They preach wealth and flaunt luxury – real or rented. It is also why our government will do a public display to flag off everything and show off everything.

Everyone (individual and NGOs) is showing off any good deed that they do.

The act in itself is not the problem, the act is simply a reflection of an internal condition.

I think that some of us are empty inside and we are seeking love and validation from external accolades.

We like the “wow, you’re doing great” comments.

Some youths of my generation feel a bit of depression when they don’t have anything to post about the successes in their lives, especially when every day, the social media is awash with the posting of one good thing about the good life of this person or that person.

Nobody posts their hard times which we all go through.

Those of us having it hard now can’t wait till we have something good to share – the finding of a spouse, the good news of a government appointment, the birth of a baby, wedding ceremony, job contract, traveling abroad, start up of a business, etc.

I don’t know the solution to this but I think it is not healthy and this piece is just an advice. I have said something like this in the past and I think I should say it again.

The “show off” craze will make us announce our beginning when in the real sense, real value is built in silence over a period of years.

Nobody knew when Zuckerberg started coding or when he signed his first business deal. The company’s success just kept growing until it became what cannot but be noticed. That was when people began to know who was behind it because the media started interviewing him. He didn’t start motivational speaking when he was just starting up.

Sometimes when you start something, especially a business, for the first five years it won’t look like you are doing anything worthwhile.

Dear youths, some of your stories will be sweet when it is told at your age 55, when the success of what you’ve been doing over the last 25 years of your life is being used to inspire youths of that age; When you have successfully turned that your marriage into a home that has produced children who are godly and contributors to social sanity, children who are not infected by the youthful plague of their own generation; A time when your business has become a national brand with successes that are visible.

Dear young ones, take it easy on yourself. The demand on you is much I know, but take this piece as a friendly advice and keep yourself sane and free from depression. Focus on what you are doing.

It doesn’t matter if you get the accolades or not. The accolades are coming if you don’t relent, but it will take time, be prepared to wait – if you believe in what you are doing.

Lastly, This doesn’t apply to those who post their work for advertisement purposes. This is just for those who are getting sick in the stomach because it appears that they don’t have something to show as a mark of progress like they see of others in their age group. Truth is, it is quite okay to have nothing to show now. Those who have something to show now have years of struggles and failures behind the scene that you know nothing of. Wait, work, fail, fall, groan, cry, give up, start another, focus, grind, sweat, think, improve, pray, fast, grow, succeed. This is the process. And it will take time, soak yourself in the process.

Mercedes Benz 230 (V-Boot) was in vogue in a generation. It used to be the craze and the show of success in a generation. This is a proof that what you crave for today will become obsolete someday, so WAIT.