From the Brink | #MyFridayStory No. 355

We’re quick to complain when things don’t go our way. Even if it happens often, complaining rarely accomplishes much beyond giving us something to talk about. Constantly moaning about our lot, hopping from one drama to the next, can become a rut that’s hard to escape. We linger there, stomping in our own poo for a while, the rising stench stinging our nostrils. It can feel "safe"—a twisted comfort zone where we hide from responsibility.

Sometimes, the world seems like it owes us an ear to our negative drivel, a chance to explain how tough we have it. When challenges keep tripping us up, it’s easy to get disheartened and think, “This is just how life is.” After all, everyone faces struggles. But a relentless onslaught of hardship can knock anyone down, no matter how resilient. Prolonged struggles can sour your heart, leaving you in a bad mood and turning your frustration on the people who deserve it least.

What’s there to be thankful for when life is this tough?

Living in a way that rarely goes smoothly can make it feel like justice and kindness don’t apply to you, as though you’re somehow attracting the bad karma sabotaging your progress. I’ve felt this before, especially when at my most vulnerable, another obstacle was thrown my way.

In 2019, as Covid-19 began its global spread, a series of blows left me convinced life was conspiring against me. My business had already been struggling, but the lockdown dashed any hope of a comeback. Despite my attempts to pivot to a remote offering, income dried up while debts kept piling on. Losing my car kicked off a downward spiral that ended only when I found myself in the hospital with a broken femur.

One afternoon, as my daughter and I exited a shopping centre, I spotted a police car chasing another vehicle through the parking lot. The suspects’ car sped toward the exit, screeching around a corner. Instinctively, I held my daughter back in her seat with one arm and said, “Hold tight!” before swerving in front of their car. They collided with the back of mine, flipping over onto its side and coming to a stop. The impact catapulted my car over the pavement, uprooting a stop sign. Miraculously, neither my daughter nor I was injured. The police swiftly arrested the suspects spilling out of the flipped car.

But the damage to my car was extensive. It was deemed uneconomical to repair and written off. My finances were so dire that I had let my insurance lapse, so I arranged for repairs using second-hand parts. The repair shop did a terrible job and even stole parts, leaving me with another bill and still no car. When I finally got it back after five months, I sold it to settle my debt, and a 100cc Yamaha scooter became my new mode of transport.

Then, in 2020, my older brother died of cancer at 68. He was my mentor, my best friend, and he’d always taken it upon himself to guide me through life. Losing him was like losing a part of myself.

The streak of bad luck finally ended one day when a truck and trailer hit me on my scooter at an intersection. The truck braked hard, its horn blaring as its grille and bulbar struck my left femur, snapping it in half and flinging me through the air. My scooter got lodged under the truck’s front wheel and was dragged 50 meters before stopping.

I spent 26 days in a government hospital, a time that softened my spirit and fortified my resolve. I used those days to listen, learn, and reflect on God’s grace and mercy in sparing my life. The outpouring of love and support I received set the foundation for my life going forward.

Today, as a father, grandfather, and friend, I spend my time doing what I love with the people I cherish. I am blessed in ways I could never have imagined. I wouldn’t change a single step in the journey that brought me back from the brink to where I am today—a place of joy and enlightenment.

Have a great weekend and remember to be generous! 😄

As always, thanks for reading. 🙏

To receive #MyFridayStory every week, please join any Tribe below:

• WhatsApp Group
• LinkedIn Group
• LinkedIn Newsletter
• Medium.com Newsletter
• Email Newsletter