By Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah
A father said to his daughter: “You have graduated with honours, here is a car I bought so many years ago. It is a bit older now but before I give it to you, take it to a used car lot downtown and tell them you want to sell it and see how much they offer you for it. The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because they said it looks pretty worn out.”
The father said: “Take it to the Pawn Shop instead.” The daughter went to the Pawn Shop, returned to her father and said, “The Pawn Shop offered only $100 because they said it is an old car.”
The father then asked his daughter to go to a Car Club and show them the car. The daughter then took the car to the Car Club, returned and told her father, “Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because it is an iconic car, sought by many collectors.”
Now the father said this to his daughter: “The right place values you the right way, always go there. But when you are not valued, do not be angry. It means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.”
Illustratively, just like the same car that was priced $1000 and $100,000 respectively by different people based on the value they attached to it, so do people attach values to you and it behoves you to pick a choice. As a result, stop wasting time where you continue to feel drained. For, it is better to accept the fact that you are not appreciated than to try your hardest to make someone see your true worth. Rather, place your energy where it will be appreciated and valued. Do what it takes to grow and be valued. Sometimes, it is a lonely journey but there is no other way to it.
It follows that, if you cannot change all the people around you, you can at least, change the people you choose to be around. Life is too short to waste your time on people who don’t appreciate and value you. Surround yourself with people who see your value and remind you of it. Because, being told that you are appreciated is one of the simplest yet most incredible things you could ever hear of in 2021. It has a psychological angle to it. It energises. It motivates. It feeds the soul. It cures depression. It adds vitality to life.
Correspondingly, when a person or place demeans your value, or destroys your image or regularly lowers your estimation in the eyes of other people just to ridicule you, or denigrates your abilities in order to cause you psychological harm, or gleefully belittles your opinion, presence or contribution or when someone or a system treats you like an option, help them narrow their choices by removing yourself from the equation.
Everyone enjoys being acknowledged and appreciated. Sometimes, even the simplest act of gratitude can change someone’s entire day. Take the time to recognize and stay with people who value you and forget not that, your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.
Do have a great Thursday and continue to be a person of value in 2021 because at the appropriate time, those that know your worth, will look for you!
*Dr. Ogah is the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development.