I was thinking this morning.....About Aggressive Defensive Move

Aggressive Defensive Move

I was thinking this morning..... about how aggressive we have become as a people. It was another Monday morning when I set out for the airport very early and so much time to spare, or so I thought. But the driver of the taxi I took had other plans. His aggression on the road made me wonder why was not a Formula One driver. Though his aggression seems to be measured and safe, his impatience at the tollgate and quick maneuvering between cars dropped the question in my lips, 'what is driving this guy?' or putting it in Warri slang 'wetin dey work this guy?'

 

When I arrived at the airport, checked in and sat at the waiting lounge, I opened my online News page and read an article about last weekend's Formula One race in Singapore and how Sebastian Vettel lost the race to Lewis Hamilton. The writer had asked, 'How much will Sebastian Vettel come to regret the aggressive defensive move that contributed to the collision that took him out of the Singaporean Grand Prix?'

 

The statement made me reflect on the 'aggressive defensive moves' we make all too often and the regret that follows. It is okay to defend yourself but when your defense becomes too aggressive, you become the aggressor. In defending ourselves we must know that discretion is the better part of valor.

 

Think of David Luiz of Chelsea last weekend, who was being bullied by an Arsenal player. In defending himself, he became too aggressive, came at Sead Kolasinac viciously and was shown a straight red card. Too bad! He had become the aggressor. Discretion is the better part of valor.

 

'Aggressive defensive move,' is this an inbuilt character trait or did we learn it from the environment? Oh I see the link. We have been hurting the environment and destroying everything natural. In response, nature became aggressive and lashed at men with Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria. The impact is devastating. Aggressive defensive move will always leave regrets.

 

You are married but feel marginalized by your in-laws and therefore you want to defend yourself. If you are too aggressive and decide to threaten your husband with divorce and starvation, don't be surprised if they launch 'Operation Mama Carol must go!' Hmm!!! Discretion is the better part of valor.

 

Oh, how important it is to exercise caution, because Prov 19:11 says 'A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.'

 

Happy Sunday.

 

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

 

I was thinking this morning........... about Stress

Stress

I was thinking this morning ..... about stress. I started last week on a high, with an early Monday morning boat ride out of town for an inspection. No breakfast or even time to think of one. When we were done by lunchtime, I was out of time and was going to miss my boat ride back. So I skipped lunch and headed straight to the jetty. By whiskers, I was able to get into the boat just before it set off. I took my seat at the last row, took a deep breath and with eyes shut, I thought about how stressful life can be and then I remembered this gist that made me smile.

It was about an okada man that worked till 2am. On getting home, he decided to take a bath. He suddenly ran out naked shouting ghost! ghost!! ghost!!! Narrating his ordeal, he said he has poured water on his head several times but it's not touching his head. Neighbours rushed out only to discover he didn't remove his helmet before having his bath. Hmm!!! I giggled and for the first time I agreed with the words of Richard Carlson that 'Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.'

As I gave the words of Richard Carlson some more thought, it occurred to me that like the okada man, stress may be responsible for the flashes of insanity we are seeing around the world. Think about it, after a traumatic 2016/2017 season, Arsenal FC fans were hoping for some joy early this season. Guess what? After narrowly winning their opening match, they lost to Stoke City and were stunned by Liverpool. While everyone expected Arsene to strengthen the team while the transfer window remained open, he shocked everyone and sold Ox to Liverpool and brought in 'Nobodinho.' Like the okada man, he is expecting water to touch his head while he has his helmet on. Oh it must be stress that is responsible for the insanity flash.

Trust me, it has to be stress that is causing these flashes of insanity. Imagine the news of three passengers on board Air Peace flight from Lagos to Abuja being arrested and charged to court for pointing out and demanding an explanation as to why the emergency exits on the plane were blocked with seats. Instead of FAAN and NCAA grounding the aircraft and arresting the personnel that cleared the aircraft, they arrested the passengers that complained for being unruly. Yes, it must be stress that is responsible for this insanity flash.

It must be financial stress that will make a man pummel his wife simply because she asked him for money. Oh it must be 'spiritual stress' that will make a Professor kill his SAN younger brother in Ibadan because they had a dispute over their father's property. Both men only recently returned back to Nigeria after sojourning abroad. Please don't ask me what 'spiritual stress' is.

As you go out today and observe or read about these flashes of insanity, many may not be as a result of home trouble, they may just be from stress. Whatever, it is you are going through, just RELAX, God is in control.

Have a very happy and RESTFUL Sunday.

.......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning ........ about Shame

SHAME

I was thinking this morning....... about shame and Jonathan Swift, who said 'I never wonder to see men wicked but often wonder to see them not ashamed.' I was literally dragged by the ear to this thought after I read an article in the Vanguard newspaper written by one Ugoji Egbujo about how in the face of massive accusations made by one Senator Missau against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Force, Nigerians had remained unconcerned. He had written, 'Where on earth does a law enforcement agent accused of corruption begin an investigation into his accuser's past even before the dust raised by his accuser's allegation has settled? Only in Nigeria.' To me the article, though intriguing, could have been neatly laid to rest in my subconscious, but then I read the concluding sentence where he asked, 'Shame, why have you departed?' Hmm!!! A million bulbs were switched on in my head by that statement.

It really got me thinking about how shame had departed from our shores to a land far away. The other day that I visited Abuja, I was admiring how well planned the city is, with well groomed walkways. Suddenly, the apple juice in my mouth had changed to Alomo bitters, when I observed an FRSC officer deployed to this picturesque neighborhood, stand by the road, zip down and started to pee without giving a hoot about who was driving or walking by. Oh shame, why have you departed?

As I bowed my head in humility, I recalled the news item midweek of the marital infidelity of a certain Ghanaian TV personality and media sensation Afia Schwarzenegger to her husband, South African based Ghanaian businessman and professional instrumentalist Lawrence Abrokwa. Instead of her to hide her face in shame, she went on Instagram and wrote 'I am single.....ready to date your father.' It is heart breaking how people caught in infidelity these days easily brush it off like a dry dust on a brown shirt. Oh shame, why have you departed?

In my dejection, my mind flashed back to the news of the possible take over of Arik Air by Ethiopian Airline. I understand that poor management of anything Nigerian or owned by a Nigerian is pervasive, but can't understand why if we must handover, it will be to Ethiopia. Haba Jamaha!!! Are we so bad as a people that we want to shamelessly hand over our institutions to Ethiopia to help us manage? Oh shame, why have you departed?

I believe it is time to go bring back 'shame,' not because 'shame' by itself is good, but it helps to buffet the deviants and drive them towards dignity. 'Shame,' please return so that Nigerians can behave. But as for you that is upright, my word for you is 'Fear not, for you will not be put to shame' (Isaiah 54:4).

Happy Sunday.

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.

I was thinking this morning..... about Menopause and Niger Delta Oil

Flowing like Niger Delta Oil

I was thinking this morning..... about menopause and Niger Delta oil. I know someone might be thinking, 'this man sef, so you have nothing else to think about but this?' Trust me, I didn't wake up to think about menopause until last Sunday when a young lady gave a testimony in church. She was thanking God that after three years of ceased menstrual flow, through the power of God, her menstrual flow returned. According to her, 'when it returned, it was flowing like Niger delta oil.' Everyone laughed at the analogy but it got me thinking about the misery that follows menopause when a lady is yet to have children.

Menopause is an interesting phenomenon. If a lady is unfortunate not to have had  her children before the onset of menopause, it is assumed she has lost all. This is biological menopause. As I reflected on this condition, it occurred to me that the Niger delta region is approaching her menopause when the oil will cease to flow. This condition will be called Hydrocarbon menopause. Unfortunately, the region is yet to bear the children that will care for her at old age.