Olusegun Obasanjo, aged 94, wrote a touching letter to Nigerians. Does this mean he is preparing to leave this world? Here is what he wrote:
My fellow citizens,
People say life is long. They say, “Take your time, there is plenty of it.” But I am 94 years old now, and I can tell you with certainty that this is not true. Life is not long; it passes in the blink of an eye. As I draw closer to leaving this world, my heart wants to leave you with a few lessons.
I accumulated wealth, gained influence, and earned recognition, but today all of these seem like dust gathering in the corner of my room. If I stretch out my hand now, not one of them can go with me.
Lesson One: Do Not Live Waiting
A large part of my life was spent waiting.
In school, I thought life would begin after graduation.
When I joined the military, I waited for the weekends.
When I got married, I waited for my children to grow up.
When they grew up, I began waiting for retirement.
I treated each day as just another step, thinking real life was somewhere ahead. But now I understand that there is no final destination; the journey itself is life.
Lesson Two: Gold Is Not Food
I spent 50 years accumulating wealth. I worked so hard that I missed precious moments with my family.
I bought large houses, expensive cars, and luxurious possessions, but now that I am nearing the end of my journey, I realize that none of these things can accompany me.
I still remember the day my daughter called me into the garden to see a tiny insect she had discovered. I told her, “Not now, I’m working.” To this day, I still feel the pain of that missed moment.
Lesson Three: Tear Down the Wall in Your Heart
When I was younger, I believed that showing compassion or apologizing was a sign of weakness.
I had a brother I grew up with. One day we disagreed over something small. I cannot even remember what caused the disagreement now.
I waited for him to make the first move toward reconciliation. Years passed. Then one day I received a call informing me that he had died.
That was when I realized that I had been right, but I had lost my brother.
If you love someone, tell them today. If you have made a mistake, apologize today. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
Lesson Four: Fear Is Only a Shadow
I was 22 years old when I dreamed of becoming a writer. I had notebooks filled with dreams and stories.
But I never wrote that book because I was afraid of being mocked or failing.
Now my hands tremble and my eyesight has weakened. That book is still inside me.
The greatest tragedy in life is not death; it is the dreams we bury while we are still alive.
Do not keep postponing what your heart longs to do. Start today. Even if you fail, at least you will be able to say, “I tried.”
Conclusion
The ticking of my clock grows louder in my ears now. I have let go of worry, pride, and fear.
You are still alive. You still have another day.
Do not waste it.
Look at your hands. Move your fingers. Feel your breath.
All of this is a blessing.
Do not wait until you are 94 years old to realize how beautiful life is.
Live now.
Until we meet again.
Summary
Life is short. Live fully, cherish your loved ones, forgive quickly, pursue your dreams, and make every day count. ❤️🙏🏾
