My Dance With Poverty.

Sherryfah

Writer/ Qualified health coach/ Fitness expert

My Dance With Poverty.

July 2, 2017

hunger, Life, life lesson, needs, poverty, wants

As I opened the door for my mother that day, I knew something was wrong. With tears in her eyes, she walked silently towards her bed and sat at the edge, sobbing uncontrollably. I sat on the floor watching helplessly not knowing what to do. I was confused and so were my siblings. As we asked her what happened, she shook, breathing heavily in the surge to stop crying. I was about the age of 12.

It was a period we were experiencing what could be described as starvation. The food was never enough because my mother’s business was at a standstill. Everything she ventured in yielded no profit. We often went on with life with a meal daily. Times were hard.

On that particular day, my mother had gone out with the promise to put delicious food on the table. As promised, she was able to raise some money and as she returned home, her little bag was snatched from her and this little bag contained all the money she had. She was lost and confused. She returned home disappointed in herself. We went to bed without food on that fateful night. No one complained. We had hatred for the thief who took away our dinner. The thief who took away a bit of our happiness.

However, for me, something clicked that night. I vowed never to be poor. I promised to make things work no matter what. I hated seeing my mother cry. I hated not eating as at when due. I hated just patching things up. I hated the torture hunger brought to my tiny body.

As I mature in age, I got to know the true meaning of poverty. Poverty is more than not eating. It is the deprivation of many things. Deprivation of hope. Deprivation of needs. The helplessness that comes along with poverty is utterly unbearable.

My battle with poverty is still ongoing and this is a battle I am willing to win. I have picked up life lessons while growing in those dark, lonely poverty stricken moments.

I can boldly say I had an affair with poverty, I had seen the common phases of hunger and wants. I had lived in a house whose roof gave way to rain-water whenever it rained with cups, plates, pots and buckets spread across the entire width of our little room saving the drippings of rainy water like a blanket of wool. With each of us perching on our little toes like birds, with no space to put our tired heads, drenching in the comfort our little room.

I had gone to bed many times without food. I had slept in total darkness for many months because my mother could not afford electricity bills. I had eaten some nasty foods in other to satisfy my hunger. My mother had sold the best of her clothes time and time again at the second-hand market in exchange for food. I had cried with my mother over the lack of basic needs. I had worn patched-up clothes proudly. I had wished hopelessly.

Despite all that I experienced, my parents made sure we all learn good manners, self-respect and diligence. We were taught to believe in ourselves even if the whole world looks down on us. We were taught selflessness and resilience. Despite everything, I had a very happy childhood.

Poverty is unbearable. It is draining and painful, but, there is nothing degrading than losing the plot while impoverishing. It does not worth it to give up hope and surrender to its shame. Oh no. Good moral and self-worth should not be forgotten.

It is very easy to pick up some vices when you are in need, being in need open the door to many immoralities. It opens the door to lies, thefts, dishonesty and make-believes. The test of this time is to be truthful, to work hard and to keep trying. There is nothing wrong in seeking help from those around. There is nothing wrong to keep learning and there is definitely nothing wrong in reaching for the sky and keeping open alive.

I grew up experiencing loads of emotions. There were moments of joy and sadness. There were moments when I just felt I didn’t want to grow old and moments when I couldn’t just wait to spread my wings and just FLY. These moments made me who I am today. Rich or poor. Tall or short. Intelligent or dumb. Who you are today is a moment in your life. Make this moment worth living in future.

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Sherryfah

Sherryfah