Through the lens of an Anago aka Naija girl – My Coro Story Part 2

It's October 2020, roughly seven months since the world we knew changed. However, there is a lot to be grateful for. That I sit here behind my laptop to give you part 2 to a story that started months ago, and the fact that you are reading 'MY STORY' is a testament that His grace saw us through. We are resilient and able to surmount much more than we ever imagined. Like any great Hollywood blockbuster has a sequel, what is my Coro story without one too… I was gracious enough not to extend your waiting for three years to read the priceless lesson learnt in this season...

 As always, morning came for me to run. However, this run was a bit different as I got out of bed a few minutes after 5:00 am, got dressed, and headed out of the house. 

As I approached the end of my street, I caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette. It was the security man, my new friend, Mr. Obeng. (Don’t know who Mr.Obeng is? Then you need to read part 1 of my story). As I approached him, he walked towards me. Today, our greeting was different. It was that of two people who had crossed from the unfamiliar to the familiar; it was that of two people who had shared an experience. When we got to safe talking distance of each other, we exchanged our warm pleasantries when he stated that it had been a while he saw me out on my run. I mumbled something under my breath about being around, but that was not the whole story. I could not explain it to him as I had been struggling with myself for the past week, but I guess I can make my confession to you…

What made this run different apart coming out later than the usual time was that it had also been one week since I came out for my run. Shocking, right? Given my vision 20/20(reminds me of how being a child, every nation and organization had a strategy/vision for 2020). I guess we all waltzed into 2020 with great expectations, dreams, and big ideas on how to evaluate our strategies and re-strategize where we had to. But alas, COVID-19 happened. And we have all being forced to breathe, learn, live, breathe again and stay stronger through these times.

So, back to my story. Though I had not been out to run in a week, I had fallen into the routine of working out at home. The first, second, and third day, although I woke up at the usual time, I would tell myself I was too tired to go out. After five days, I did a self-reflection and understood what the problem was, and this was what I found. I invite you to walk with me through these lessons:

Lesson 1 – The Reset

You see, although I achieved my goal on the actual day of the event, I realized that my mind went into a flight or fight mode. I always used to joke that Accra was safe, learning that there was a higher security threat put me on alert unconsciously. Notice my vision 20/20 had not changed. However, the circumstances around it had, hence my reluctance. Just like COVID -19 and its fall out. I learnt that:  

• The mind is powerful, and we need to overcome battles, pull down barriers and overcome challenges like the bible says; “As a man thinks, so is he.” Sometimes these thoughts are so silent that we do not realize they are there  
• Although we make plans, have dreams and visions, when we experience drawbacks, we have to reset our minds. In this case, I had to adjust my mind to the new normal. (i.e. my timing and being security conscious). To get out of bed that morning to have my run, I had to reset my mind, and only then was I able to successfully get out of the house.

Lesson 2- The new normal (when the unfamiliar becomes normal and bring discoveries) 

When I started my run, although it was much later than the usual time, I decided to take the main road before I got on my familiar path. I was flabbergasted to notice some things I had never observed on this path for over two years:

1. For someone who had been unlucky with phones, and had changed/repaired three of them in the past months, with awful results every time, because I had to source out the repair to people who lacked the needed skills. I found out that there was an approved repair store just down my street. Can I add that I had previously visited this complex that housed a pharmacy, but never noticed that store.
2. Being the food enthusiast that I am, I realized that there was a kosse seller a. k.a akara (bean cake) seller down my streetJ. I could not count the number of times I have had cravings for a taste of Naija that I never noticed her.

The above discoveries made me realize the following:

• Sometimes we need to slow down to see, discover, or appreciate things that have always been there. These have proven to be true in my life in the past months through COVID- 19.
• Although I got on the main street, I made a return to my familiar path. The switch allowed me to discover I preferred my usual route as it had much lighter traffic. Having an option to select from impacts the quality of our decisions
• In a place of calm and quiet, there is tremendous clarity.

Lesson 3-Pain always fades away … sometimes it leaves scars  

Remember the sting? The pain did fade away, but as I ran that morning, I noticed for the first time that it left a small dark scar.

• I learnt from this experience that when we go through challenges, sometimes scars would remain. These scars could be emotional, mental, or physical. However, what we do with the knowledge of it is more important. Do we learn from it, or do we dwell on it and let the experience and not the pain (as this has long gone away) eat us?

My question to you today is, what do you do with your scars.

 Lesson 4- Morning will always come- The rising Sun

As I continued my run, the sun rose, and I remembered another reason I loathed coming out late. One thing I have learnt from being indoors during COVID-19 is that I am a melanin light-skinned girl.

On a particular day I came out late, I realized when I got back home that I got sunburns. Before that day, I was oblivious dark-skinned people could get sunburns. I mean, everywhere that my sports outfit did not cover got a darker tone, and it further drove my resolve to come out early. However, with my RESET, this had to change. On that fateful day, I was out and donned a face cap to at least protect my face. I also fully accepted that the Sun would always rise in the East and no matter how much I tried to shield myself, there was little I could do about it, and it made me see things in a different light as I got to understand the following:

• We must focus on things we can control and let go of things we cannot. In my case, my goal to keep exercising was much more important to me than my light skinJ. In other words, is your push greater than your pull?
• I also learnt that since you could not stop the sun from rising, … get a sunscreen. This lesson also applies to all aspects of our life. There is always a solution out there, you only need to find it.

P.S: Shout out to Mr. Obeng for being my guardian angel. Over time, our friendship has evolved into something so beautiful and I would always be grateful to him.. as for that koose seller… I will be visiting her soon.

I wish you a super-amazing week, filled with light, hope, and unprecedented blessings.

#Lightattheendofthetunnel

#mystory

#part2