The Value in Sweat

The Value in Sweat

I was thinking this morning.... about the value in sweat. As we huddled at the departure lounge waiting to board our flight out of Lagos last Monday, some colleagues and I engaged in discussions of varied topics. Surprisingly, we were not discussing politics but family life. At a point, one of us from the South-West said he had a splendid weekend in his village where he made and ate 'sweat-generated pounded yam' and efo riro soup. The younger in our midst wondered why the emphasis on 'sweat-generated pounded yam' since the machine made poundo gives same value. Those that grew up in the village amongst us objected promptly explaining that the  sweat-generated, mortar pounded yam comes with a different texture and taste that is so yummy you just can't resist it. At this point I remembered Mark Cuban, an American businessman and investor, who had said 'Sweat equity is the best equity.'

 

Days later, as I thought about the sweat-generated pounded yam, I started to hunger for it but remembered that I was on a mission to reduce my stomach size. But what is the best way to reduce my belly fat? Should I sweat it off in high intensity exercise or I should go for those wonder tablets or juices that promise to blast my belly fat in a week? The wonder juice seems tempting but I would rather the more natural sweat-generating weight loss program. Recalling how refreshing it is to go under the shower after breaking a nice sweat, I concurred with the statement 'sweat equity is the best equity.'

 

Sweat equity is literally the best equity if you know what to do with the sweat you generate. Do you know that the normal human being sweats around 278 gallons (1,052 litres) each year? This is about 56 CWay bottles of water. This is a lot of water any way you look at it. No wonder a Swedish scientist created a delicious beverage machine that dispenses freshly secreted sweat. The 'sweat machine' works by sucking moisture out of sweaty clothing and purifies it enough to drink. Hmm!!! According to Spiff of 'The Johnsons' show, 'Boys thinking deep.' Truly, sweat equity is the best equity.

 

Funny, how so many people make so much effort to avoid sweating. They buy yam pounder and other machines to help, install air conditioning everywhere including kitchen and even use anti-perspirant. Haba, sweating is not a taboo. Interestingly, the fitter you are, the more you sweat. So the next time someone says you look sweaty, take it as a compliment. No wonder Jesus did not shy away from sweating as Luke 22:44 said 'And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.'

 

So, as we get into 2019, it doesn't matter whether you are pounding yam on mortar, working out or praying earnestly like Jesus, just make sure you generate your 278 gallons of sweat next year and if you don't know what to do with it, go to Sweden.

 

Happy Sunday.

 

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