The Bomb Is Ready To Go Off.

If you walk the high streets of New York to the slums of New Delhi or read the breaking news in Berlin to the corner streets of Lagos, you will find out that the news is the same.  There are disasters just happening somewhere. They range from terrorist attacks to unprovoked murders, fires, floods and hurricanes, then sudden shootings, riots and wars.  There are tsunamis, earthquakes and tornados. The world is experiencing a sharp rise in suicidal bombings and hatred to one another as a result of various prejudiced beliefs ranging from religious, tribal and racial differences.  Every day is a waterloo; there is a bomb ready to go off, somewhere now.

Everyone is worried and troubled by the new trend of looming disasters from all corners of the world.  A disaster is prepared and ready to come down every other minute and just as the world is expanding in technology, our life is equally getting less attractive.  Everyone is in the business of catching the new tragic-bug, while ignoring what makes our lives worthwhile like happiness, family, friends, good health, good food and love for each other.  


The animalistic competition for space and dominance has taken a dreadful dimension and we are getting trapped in these nonessential permutation.   Things that matter to us previously are now taken with levity and we are gradually breeding gangs of murderers, trigger-happy killers and manipulators, all with same aim; to kill and destroy. They are in the business of breaking the cycle of life; they decide who should live and who should die.

The new tragedies emerging are the types we’ve never envisaged and trouble keeps staring us in the face, these tragedies are getting closer to us individually daily.  The trends have reached a very dangerous level; leading to a disaster we now call a new world.  Our life is obviously losing its value.

The once beautiful world is turning into a terrifying place to live and the new trends are fast and dangerously reshaping our lifestyles.  We are becoming more security conscious, watchful and suspicious of one another.  We now live like the famous cartoon character scaredy cat, sleeping with one eye opened.  Gone are the days of friendship and love; it’s now a competition for the smartest and the meanest.  This is not the ideal world we want to live and I cannot but ask the question; why have we got ourselves in this mess? What is our world coming to?

The new world is anchored on the game of egocentrism, readily ignoring social stability or regard for communal interests, beliefs and countenance.  Everyone is in the business of proving a point, sadly often in a bloody and deadly way, while ignoring the menace these is creating to our world.  Must we shed blood to make our points known and must we cut off our nose to spite our face?   Can we not live in peace and harmony to help our children have a future they can call their own?  The sky is big enough for every flying bird; it is not enough to kill in order to make a room for you.  

Let us retrace our steps, we are moving far away from reality and now embracing a world of illusion, a world full of distortion and absurd irrationality.  We need to bring back the happiness that makes us human.  Let us reconnect to our roots, family, music, togetherness and every other thing that brings us joy and happiness.  Let’s co-habit in contentment and family togetherness to bring the best happiness we can get.  Let’s all return to the way of peace and happiness, putting a stop to these baleful trends.

How then can we stay happy and relaxed in these new hyped-up and dangerous times?  

It is important to take care of your body, mind and emotions so you are not drifted away as a result of the events all around you, it is equally mandatory to stay positive and live a stress free life.  Stress is the bomb that is ready to go off; if you let it get to you, it is fatal.  

Danzae Pace wrote that; “Stress is the trash of modern life, we all generate it but if you don’t dispose of it properly, it will pile up and take over your life.”

Stress can break your body, mind and emotions, so your response to it really matters.   A Chinese proverb says; “Tension is who you think you should be while relaxation is who you are.”   Do not be taken by the evil days, stay clear of  any emotional strain or tension as a result of the demanding circumstances all around you.

To identify if you are stressed by the happenings around you, below are some common indications.

• Poor sleep pattern.
• Lack of appetite.
• Craving for food when under pressure.
• Frequent indigestion and heartburn.
• Suppressed anger.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Constant Irritability with people.
• Loss of sense of humour.
• Difficulty in making decisions. 
• Feeling unable to cope.
• Inability to finish one task before rushing into another.

If any of the above apply to you, it is important to immediately increase your resilience to stress and adopt a new balance that will make a real difference to your life, try some of the following.

• Avoid excessive stimulants and caffeinated drinks.
• Listen to music, read books, and cut back on TV.
• Breathe once in a while, from the belly not the chest.
• Enjoy a warm bath.
• Do not eat all the time.
• Get romantic; find love, its healthy for you.
• Exercise or walk.
• Think positively.
• Chat and meet people.
•  Take up a hobby.
• Take adequate rest and sleep; relax every day.
• Be comfortable and organise your priorities.
• Give yourself time and space.
• Do things more slowly.
• Seek help, confide in a friend or talk to a counsellor.
• Know when your cup is full and stop.

Abiola Olaifa writes ( abiolla@gmail.com , www.abiolla.com )