Undoubtedly, there are certain experiences that one can't seem to let go or even get over no matter the effort. Sometimes, the entire scene plays back like the flashback dramatic technique where past events are brought back for the purpose of clarity of the current scene.
Some memories are lovely while others are really sad ones. For me, events with happy endings are worth sticking to but you see those sad ones, they make me cry and I hate remembering them. But is there anything one can do to the brain to make it remember and keep only happy memories? I really do not think so.
I walked through my 2023 with lots of experiences. I had a number of good times and did have some downtime too. In this post, I will be sharing with you the bad memories that has refused to leave my head.
The very first memory I would love to share isn't funny at all, I can't take it off my head anytime soon. 2023 began very well in Nigeria and all of a sudden in January, there was a need for currency change according to the government because I and million other citizens didn't see the need to change the currency. There was a deadline given for the expiration of the old notes and effective from February, the old notes wasn't accepted anymore. You are either exhaust up to the last naira in your possession or simply pay it into the bank with the hope of withdrawing new notes but this wasn't the case. The new notes in circulation were limited and things became really tough. One would spend the entire day in the bank, queuing and fighting each other all day long without being able to withdraw any amount to survive the next day. Guess what? This experience didn't just last for days, it lasted for two months or thereabout and trust me, it was terribly. I can't forget in a hurry how I suffer throughout that period to get things fixed for my wedding ceremony which was to take place in April. The memory of that entire period has refused to go away from me till date. The picture below shows how people sat all day in front of a bank, waiting and hoping for cash.
Another exceptionally bad experience took place during August long holiday. The rainy season had began and was always pouring heavily during the August break. Since I wasn't really engaged in anything, I decided to begin snacks business. Seriously, nobody too me it wasn't going to be easy. I learnt it the hard way.
After getting a spot around a semi-busy area, I started off with making the Nigerian bus, fish rolls, egg rolls chin chin etc for sell but let me break the ice, I never had good patronage. I recorded a whole lot of lost and felt very frustrated each time I got out there in the cold of every rainy day without making sales. I couldn't keep up with it again, I really needed my sanity back as the entire situation was driving me crazy so, I had to stop but the memory has not gone and I am not sure it will.
I told you I had lots of down times right? This one is still really fresh in my mind. It happened on 1st November, 2023. My husband was all set to travel and I couldn't stop thinking of how I would spend a whole three weeks without him but I had to cause it was an important trip to him. We keep communicating while he was still on his way down to his distinction, it was a long trip (he was leaving the state) until evening when I noticed I had a low battery in my phone. There was no power supply and I really needed to power the phone so I can hear from my husband before sleeping. I took the phone to a grocery store nearby to help me power it and returned home. The store closes by 9pm so I must go get the phone before time but on reaching home, I fell on the bed and off I dozed off, by the time I got up, it was already 9:35pm. Oh no! Why did I even come back home? I should have waited maybe outside the shop. I wished I could turn back the hands of time but who does that? I definitely couldn't sleep the whole night, my pillow was indeed wet all through because I couldn't hold back the tears running down my eyes. That was the first time after 6months of our marriage that I had to sleep in our house all by myself. Throughout the 3 weeks, I always got back home really sad cause I was lonely. I can't forget the experience in a hurry.
Through it all, I came out stronger and better. I am looking forward for a better 2024.
Thank you for reading till the end.
It's @mharvis
