The Two neighborhood And How They Helped Shape My Life.

What they taught me...

When some unusual chapter closes in our lives, throwing the keys in the ocean seems like the best thing to do.

It’s like a caged lion who suddenly gets his freedom. Knowing the torture and restrictions he experienced when he was bounded in chains makes him runs hastily.

He spends the rest of his life running away from anything that looks like a cage. That’s the same thing with unbearable situations.

We don’t just spend the rest of our lives running away from it when we get the chance to but we also run away from anyone or anything that reminds us of it.

Life’s too short to be surrounded by agonizing situations.

Nine years was the longest time we spent in a neighbourhood.

At first, it was glitz and glamour but as the years rolled up we realize we had been caged. That environment had several ways of draining our finances and health.

The people were no different. They were constantly vengeful, angry and envious.

It’s like we were working on eggshells each time we stepped out.

Any little progress seemed like an attack. It was unheard of that the occupants of the flat we lived in made any tremendous changes.

Here we were, spending nine years when no one has ever stayed up to that time.

The previous occupants couldn’t withstand the pressures and the landlords made sure no one did. Prior Investigation of the place wasn’t on the list as we needed a place to stay. It was available so we took it.

Each day spent in that neighbourhood was a continual wrestle for our rights, the truth and life.

When we eventually left, I left those memories behind and promised myself never to live a life of splendour and bliss against the hardship I experienced.

It was goodbye hatred and welcome peace.

There was no going back. Three years after, I had to go see someone around that vicinity. It’ll only be a quick stop, I said but it wasn’t.

I took a different route and ended up back in that neighbourhood. Now, it’s one thing to made promises and it’s another to keep them.

Curiosity is a predator of promise.

It should be normal to walk out of that place that caused me pain but for unexplained reasons, I was drawn to it. I hoped to see changes or at least something new.

Everything was exactly the way we left. The same vengeful and hateful persons were still in that neighbourhood.

They rolled their eyes at me and it was unlike anything I had seen in a while. Before we moved, I was gradually becoming like them.

It wasn’t particularly easy being their foe so let’s just team up and lived happily in evil. It was a slippery situation that almost caught the entirety of my actions should we have stayed there.

These same individuals were yet to realize the consequences of their actions and they just wallowed in evil.

On the other hand, I committed to being better since I left. The environment has a huge impact on mindset and ideologies. A continual stay can either make or mar you, so when I left I saw life from a different perspective.

Forgiveness became easy and vengeful acts dissipated all thanks to the loving individuals I found in my new neighborhood. It was the same old them but new whole me and nothing, not even their attitude could change that.

As I walked through the paths leading to the house, I remembered it wasn't all turmoil.

As teenagers, we had playmates and playgrounds before it all turned soil.

We would play different types of games innocently until adults started creating rivalry among us. Still, we laughed when anyone failed or made a blunder.

We chased after any cheat or deceiver. Those memories are some things I'll always cherish.

Eventually, the house came to light. I stood for a long time starring. Coming here was no mistake. It was time to face the past and that, for good.

It would have been a blunder if I was still like them or if they succeeded in influencing me but it was different.

A new wave of peace and joy-filled my heart knowing I was better.

Someone had to be the better one and regardless of how they looked or talked, I was several levels higher than them and just to buttress my point a woman acknowledge it.

She was a previous neighbour who would have never expected to see a turnaround.

My contemporaries had become the worst upgrade of their parents; the perpetrators of the hate game. For her, it was relieving to see a new outlook.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a good visit. When I got back home, no one had visited since we left.

It was almost an abomination to hear I did. They kept asking about my welfare knowing everything that happened but I was more than fine.

Life Lessons Here,

Sometimes, it’s important to take a journey into the past. The things that hunted and tortured you were all part of your "unbecoming"( it was part of mine at least).

It taught me what not to do and who to be. Those individuals were barely showing me a model of the evil I shouldn’t be.

The pains that came with it wasn’t worth it at that moment. On my arrival after years away, it made sense.

Journeying backwards brings more joy than sadness when we improve on ourselves to become better versions of who we are.

It’s finally time to make another promise.

Thanks for reading...