WHEN WILL WE STOP?

Many of us young people have brilliant ideas in our minds, ideas that can lift us out of our difficult situations, bring comfort to our lives, and lead to personal and community development. But the question remains: when will we stop?

Many of us live in luxury, a life of extravagance and pleasure, but only in our minds. These are the dreams we dream every day, the thoughts we entertain while sitting, walking, and even during our casual conversations at local hangouts or at home. We drive luxury cars, live in magnificent palaces, and indulge in fine dining and drinking, but all these possessions exist only in our minds. So, when will we stop?

Some of us envy the lives of others, coveting their wealth and status, forgetting to accept and appreciate our worth regardless of our circumstances. We fall into serious temptations due to our desires, facing significant consequences when we fail to control these urges. So, when will we stop?

There are those among us who belittle others for their modest achievements, spend time gossiping about the educated, and demoralize those who try, chanting the refrain, "If so-and-so failed, how can you succeed?" Yet we forget the saying, "If they could do it, why can't we?" We move from one hangout to another, pursuing pleasures and a lifestyle beyond our means. So, when will we stop?

Then there are the beggars among us, always asking for a little money here and there, constantly changing the people we approach for handouts. Often, we act differently depending on whom we're with, following the wealthy around and ingratiating ourselves with them, becoming slaves to their whims, especially for foolish errands, just to please those who give us money. We endure derogatory and mocking words, letting them go in one ear and out the other because of our begging habit. So, when will we stop?

And there are those of us who blame others when we fail, constantly looking for a scapegoat to hold accountable, saying, "It's so-and-so's fault," or "Without so-and-so, I wouldn't have failed." We go so far as to harbor resentment and plot revenge against them, and some even blame our parents and close ones for our failures, always seeing ourselves as right and infallible, our actions always justified and correct. So, when will we stop?

When will we wake up and start working on realizing the dreams and thoughts we have every day? When will we stop wasting our days on idle chatter instead of working? When will we stop begging for money and instead seek work or sound advice that can lead to a source of income? When will we stop gossiping and discouraging those who are trying to do something beneficial, no matter how small?

When will we stop blaming those around us, seeing them as the reason for our failures? So, when will we stop?

I pose this question to you, my fellow reader of this article. As for me, I've decided to stop now. The page I'm about to turn marks the end of all the above, and I'm opening a new chapter to learn from those better than me, to accept my mistakes, to identify the problem and find a solution, to seek the right path to achieve my dreams and the life I desire, and to accept that everything in front of me is a life challenge. I would be overjoyed if you and I could close this chapter together and open a new one that will bring progress to both of us and our community at large.

By: Ismail Juma Adam