PAUSE FOR THESE MOMENTS

Life can be so busy at times. It may be that new job, that project from your boss or perhaps the tedious commute to and from the office. Whatever it may be, we find that time just races past us and we seem glued unconsciously to the rigors of the routine. Unfortunately, we fail to notice the beauty of the sky, the rolling cloud or the lush greenery around us. Along the same line, we may lose out on the special moments with our loved ones if we don’t pay attention.

Family and friends constitute a very important arm of our social support system, which is vital for a healthy coexistence. Today, almost everybody is plugged into the digital minefield we call social media and happily so. One can argue they get enough social support buzz via these digital outlets to suppress the daily stress of life. I may agree with you but there is nothing as special as those real time moments we spend touching and laughing with those we love.  It does go a long way in healing the soul, a real time stress buster if you will.

So make sometime. Get together with friends and loved ones and perhaps, take a stroll through the Park, cook a meal or play some fun game together or whatever is mutually affable. If you have young ones, get them involved and cherish each other and the time. Time will never wind back but moves forward and perpetually so. However, the times or moments we spend together bonding are like minute pauses of our life journey. They are valuable.

So, this past week, I had some friends over for a family fun night. I really mean it. I never laughed that long and loud in my life. We divided the group into male and female, six male and six female. And we went at it with a game popularly called “Taboo”. You probably have played the game. But if you haven’t heard or played it, please check it out and you will thank me in your comments later on. Well, for Newbie’s like me, it is a game that allows you to characterize a word, phrase or an expression in the hope that your teammates could unravel the clue. There is a clause though. Your teammates must avoid some key words that are on the hidden card. Anyway, check it out or try Google it.

I must however confess at this time that the boys and men (my group) were mercilessly clobbered by the intelligence of the girls and ladies group. Go figure. No wander women are smarter than men. Overall, the fun game continued all through the night until 6am the next day. At last, the two male heads of the families (ME and MY American Friend) had to defend the male position…why we failed the battle and the ways of men in this kingdom called Earth. So we had the American version and then the Nigerian version. It was all too comical to say the least; the American articulating his position in his natural linguistic draw and the Nigerian speaking in Pidgin English. It was a crazy night and really fun too. The laughter could be heard miles away. And you know, it’s all on video. One day when I have the courage, I will upload it to You Tube.

Dr. Edwin Ndukwe
Austin, Texas