So rich yet so poor

First  up, let’s look at the flip side. So poor yet so rich. They are too few people like that nowadays. Still, I can bet you have probably encountered one or two of these human angels.

They almost always have little or nothing in terms of wealth as the world understands it. But, their attitude is topnotch. Always always, you find them at every turn giving a helping hand or a smile. They are poor in money but rich in attitude.

So poor yet so rich is a wealthy person. Indeed, the wealthiest the world over. They are rich, spiritually; poor physically. They are money foolish but attitude wise.

So poor yet so rich is an encourager. To everyone, so poor yet so rich is a lover or a motivator or both. Everyone loves so poor yet so rich because -I mean- love is the least befitting and deserving feeedback every lover attracts. You can never give what you don’t have.

On the other hand, if you have too much money but no sense, you are dead poor. You are alive dead or dead alive. So rich but sans empathy and class, you are of all men most miserable. You are stinking rich yet permanently stone broke.

So rich yet so poor is a hater, the very personification of evil. You are so rich yet so poor if your wealth does not reflect on your body. An aside, your wealth does not show on you because your heart is stained poor. You may go back and read that again.

It is not humility to look so poor when you are so rich. If your money has not transformed your skin, my dear, leave it: you are still poor. In fact, your poor friend that you think depends on you for survival is richer than you. They are living the rich life.

Also, you are so rich yet so poor if you wallow in class things. No matter your billionaire status, you are so poor if you despise those you think are below you. Pride and arrogance are a pair of vices so unbecoming of the rich. A rich person who exudes airs is poor in spirit -and that is the real abject poverty.

We see another proof that someone is so rich yet so poor in their attitude to everything petty. If a so-called rich man revels in petty talks, petty jealousy, etc., beware: such a soul is poorer than the poorest. Since wealth is to cleanliness and the top what poverty is to dirt and the bottom, the rich man who is fond of dirty and bottom stuff cannot be called rich. Rich people never wallow in poverty-stricken tendencies.

Let’s dwell on the foregoing a little longer. A clean poor man is rich. A dirty rich man is poor. See, it is not only money that makes a person rich.

In fact, pity is the rich man who’s only rich in money. If tertiary institutions of learning award degrees only to those found worthy in character and in learning, why must and how can we grade you rich when you score zero in character? To be seen and accepted as rich, the rich person must be complete; all-round. You cannot be found wanting and still be classified among the rich.

Furthermore, you are so rich yet so poor if careless talk is your thing. If you always run people down, forget all that you have amassed: you are very poor. If you never find anything good in even the worthiest causes just because you are not involved or in charge, you are a poor rich idiot. If you talk down on others’ genuine efforts or achievements, you are -unknown to you- the poorest rich person in town.

Copy that, please. Rich people don’t discuss or deride others. Rich people go out of their way to support others. Truly rich people are desperate to make everyone feel important or rich.

Now, to some things much deeper and surreal. One, a rich person must replicate himself. You’re so rich yet so poor if you have not produced other rich people. Any success without successor(s) is failure.

Two, a rich person must neither be greedy nor selfish. They must be generous, patient, tolerant, understanding and inclusivity- conscious. You’re so rich yet so poor if you are a ‘me, myself and I only’ bigot.

… to be continued next Monday.

Life’s little magic

The main challenge posed by Life is that she has too many tricks. For instance, you could be so small but they all think you are too big, and vice versa. Good can be bad, bad can be good.

The other thing is that even when you are that big or that good, small or bad things can move you so sweetly. I woke up this morning, thinking; wondering really about many things. What exactly does the world want and why do even so-called God’s people fear or favour or prefer Satan’s agents?

Then, my mind drifted to efforts and results and how they hardly align. Then, it sauntered towards education and talent; how one continues to taunt the other. Pray, should the Michael BUSH Talent Academy not open tomorrow?

Then, just like that, two WhatsApp chats arrived to reassure me that it might take almost an age but consistency doesn’t fail. The first from a very unlikely source assured and reassured me; never judge people based on their party because a PDP person can fail PDP, an opposition person can pass PDP. The second chat was from a young person, Blessing Umoh.

‘’The Boss, I really learnt so much from HAPPY HOUR (Loop) on radio last Friday, especially the social media aspect. Sir, you don’t know how many lives you have touched both physically and otherwise. The Good Lord will continue to bless you, The Boss and keep you safe!’’

Me: Dear The Boss, what else do you need in this Life, sef? Every day, Life throws up little offerings that add huge value. Man ought only to listen more, to glean talismanic wisdom!