TRYING TO BE POSITIVE

I've spent the week thinking about Nigeria and trying to blog about something positive. Please blame Snazzy for his wonderful post on Nigeria a few weeks ago. I, despite my love for Nigeria, and my desperate desire to find something positive to say, am stumped. I can't think of anything smart and witty to write about Nigeria.

That is a shame, because I have wonderful memories about Nigeria and the Nigerians I know. Yes, things are far from perfect there, but I truly believe that Nigeria's future is bright. That, despite the current political madness. I don't think I am overly optimistic. I think that as a Nigerian, I can't help but envision good things for my people and my country.

So, what positive things do I have to share about Nigeria? Oh, just the basics. In general, we are a country of go-getters, intellectuals, kind hearted individuals with a great sense of community and family. I explained to a friend of mine that when many Nigerian women have children, their relatives practically move in to assist in taking care of the baby. She thought that was a nice thing and regretted the fact that many Americans do not share that practice.

I can't help but think of my mother who took care of her own mother without ever once complaining. I had to beg my mother to allow her siblings to take care of my grandmother because I could see the stress she was enduring when my Mama's health began to fade. That is a quality that is not unique to my mother. A respect for and desire to honor our parents is a quality shared by most Nigerians. Although we drive each other nuts, I pray for the opportunity to care for my mother when she gets to a point where she can no longer care for herself. That, I believe will be a blessing.

I want my children to be Nigerian children who understand the importance of respect for others and respect for self. I am thankful I spent my formative years in Nigeria. I learnt so much about life and people. I plan on writing a list of my -isms to share with my children. A guidebook of sorts to help my daughter become a strong lady and my sons become confident gentlemen. I know that this list of -isms will be highly influenced by what I have learned from Nigeria.

When I come to think about it, it is not hard to be positive about Nigeria. Just reading the various blogs and seeing how much commitment there is to Nigeria and its issues clarifies that Nigeria's future will be bright as long as people maintain their ties to the Republic and continue to think critically about its issues, be that negative or positive.

Well, I will spend this weekend catching up on a few Nigerian flicks, chopping my efo and enjoying the sounds of my children's laughter. Their laughter and the laughter of all children is the constantly positive element of Nigeria and all Nigerians. It reflects what can be a bright and happy future for my country.