As I celebrated yet another trip around the sun solo (Not that I'm complaining) I contemplated several things for the first time in my storied colorful life.
I thought simply that in my next life I will choose to be married, to have the 2.3 kids, to submit my life to the routine, the atimes mind-numbing normalcy of a family. Not like there's any specific prize associated with it. But Society. Yes, Society particularly Nigerian Society values, respects and even sees you more once you're either married or with kids.
Without it, you're either invisible and your life carries no meaning, no matter how educated and professionally accomplished you are. I could have a Harvard MBA but if there's no Mr. at home with little rugrats running around, I'm addressed as if I wasted my life, as if it has no consequence whatsoever. But if I happen to have both, I'm no longer invisible but invincible and an acceptable member of society and the happiness and fulfillment with my life is assumed. They start to randomly utter to you, "We're proud of you," as if they're not proud of either way. Yea. Interesting, how much more meaning your life has once you're no longer single?
In my next life, I would choose to be black but not African and I will choose to be married with an Ivy league education, state of marriage notwithstanding. Oh if we could exercise these choices.
But now, for now, this moment, I just choose to be grateful for the sunrise on this birthday.
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