As one grows wiser, one’s priorities changes….
My phone ringing woke me up. It was my partner curious to see my new apartment. Reluctantly, I got out of bed and showed him my unarranged apartment. I caught a glimpse of a gizmo on his wrist.
‘Oga, you have bought a new watch, eh?’ I queried him with a side-eye.
‘Yes o! You know I forgot my other Fitbit in Nigeria last month.’ he replied.
‘You forgot, or you gave it to those of your Lagos girlfriends,’ I teased him.
‘You are enough on my plate. I can’t add another woman,’ he replied jokingly.
‘You see, life has changed.’ He was about to tell one of his stories that I enjoyed listening to. ‘I mean, I have got to a point in my life that I am comfortable using a $100 watch. Years ago, I was into watches. I spent a bulk of my salary on expensive watches. Recently, I gave my son one of my watches, an expensive one; he was careless in managing it. When I told him the price, he said, dad, you shouldn't have. So I took my watch, and perhaps when he is older, I could give him again.’
‘When I wanted to buy a car, I was into the specifications and horsepower. I had all types of high-end cars in my garage. I have grown up. Now, my number one priority in a car is fuel-efficient. I care less about the engine capacity now. As one grows wiser, our priorities in life change.’
I smiled.
These words reverberated in my mind because I had a similar thought yesterday. But my partner’s choice of words brought more clarity. There is a big difference between growing up and growing wiser.
We all grow up. It’s the cycle of life. However, growing wiser is a conscious effort one has to make.
I have seen men in their 50s that seem lost in their 20s. They refused to grow wiser. Yet, on the other hand, I have also met young men in their 20s with the wisdom of a 50-year-old man.
(to be continued…)
