Hello mi neighbour! | Look before leaping

Hello mi neighbour,

Ol’ time people seh, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”; and if l may add, unless you know ‘how to lay eggs’. You may find that funny, but it underscores the point. Take heed if you’re gonna save the emotional pain and mental distress as you journey through life. Be astute.

‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch’ is a wise Jamaican saying that means don’t assume that something will happen for you just by wanting it, or without paying your dues. It’s a reminder to be patient and cautious, and not to ‘jump the gun’. Otherwise, your life could end up being ruined for life. So, do your due diligence especially when required to make critical life-adjusting decisions.

TIME WILL JUDGE

Eager to be married before the gate closed on her (you know how some of our sisters are), ‘Princess’ said yes to the marriage proposal from a gentleman she hardly knew, except that he was nice, quiet and penniless. Those three pluses worked for her: she could never date a loud-mouth man and since he was penniless, she could use her “few shillings” to control him. Sounded like a plan. Good plan? Based on sound judgement? Time will judge.

Convinced that this was a dream come true, even before the knot was tied, the deal was sealed with the prospective husband becoming part-owner of her house and other belongings.

By the time friends, relatives and well-wishers got wind of what had transpired, the horse couldn’t turn back. Well, as you would surmise, by now, chicken neveh hatched. Not being able to ‘lay eggs’, nor gifted with the ability to ‘turn back the hands of time’, what other option was there but to face the consequences of her folly?

Desperation often leads to foolish decisions from which, there’s little or no redemption.

ACT ON IMPULSE

Another great proverb: ‘Look before you leap’, is a wise saying that means to think carefully and consider the potential consequences before taking action or making a decision. It’s a reminder not to act on impulse. This can be quite pricey.

The same example above applies here. For sure you will encounter many situations that confirm the truthfulness of this proverb.

From childhood, the most important things to us have always been “comfort and peace of mind”. The absence of these makes room for a life with little or no meaning. Comfort, as we know, is a state of physical, emotional, and mental well-being, where the individual feels safe, secure, and free from distress or discomfort. It’s a fundamental human need, and is essential for our physical and mental health.

As you know, also, peace of mind, on the other hand, refers to “a state of inner calm, serenity, and tranquility, where an individual feels free from worries, fears, and anxieties”. It’s a state of mental and emotional well-being, where one feels grounded, centred, and at peace with God and self.

The importance of comfort and peace of mind to human existence cannot be overstated. When we feel comfortable and at peace, we are better able to enjoy our lives and contribute to well-being of our neighbours.

Since these two things are so important to all of us, wouldn’t you agree that it behooves all of us to make those choices, as far as humanly possible, that will help to guarantee our peace of mind and our comfort? Far too many sad tales are told as a consequence of one’s eagerness to get to ‘Cloud 9’ or to satisfy a deep longing, that they skipped the step to ‘look before leaping’. Remember, if you do not want to spend the rest of your days weeping, look before leaping. And don’t forget: if you wanna lead your life with dispatch, don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

Really hope that I helped you to see some light. Now, walk in it.

HELP A NEIGHBOUR

Can you assist a needy neighbour with a stove, bed, refrigerator, sewing machine, medication, building materials, etc.?

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or 876 884-386. Email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.