By Emeka Oparah
This is NOT a rhetorical question because not many of us still run for health. I do. And, yes, I get pebbles in my shoes every now and then.
Most of the time, I do not know how they get in there, but suddenly I start feeling some discomfort. Immediately the distraction sets in, I’m compelled to stop walking or jogging or running and start trying to steer the pebbles away from where I can feel them. Trust me, it’s always an exercise in futility. I can never shake them off or shift them away. I have to totally stop, unlace my running shoes, shake off the pebble(s), wear the shoes back and get back on the road.
Away from the running tracks or streets where many a fitness freak or health buff runs or jogs or walks regularly, these pebbles represent the distractions we have in our daily lives. Again, trust me, we all have one distraction or the other. And like with the pebbles, you will never be at peace or be comfortable except and unless you take care of the pebbles, nay distractions.
However, there’s a major difference between the pebbles and distractions: while you must (and can) get rid of the pebbles, every pebble, in your shoes, you cannot get rid of every distraction in your life. Which is why I said earlier you’d never be at peace or be comfortable except and unless you “take care” of the distractions.
There are small distractions and there are big distractions. There are self-inflicted distractions and there are some we have absolutely no control over. We all know what’s big and what’s small, even if what’s big for one may be small for another. Like pebbles, if a distraction is big, it will cause more discomfort and have more consequences than the small ones. Let’s, however, spend a moment or two on the self-inflicted distractions and then look at those ones that happen on us just like that out of nowhere.
The self-inflicted distractions include habits and activities that potentially limit our capabilities as humans-alcoholism, womanizing or “manizing”, drugs, crimes, anger, laziness, gluttony, dirty secrets, greed, comparing yourself with others, jealousy and envy, etc, etc. These can make us to perform sub-optimally as workers, business people, parents, spouses, religious people, family members, etc. They can make us do things we aren’t supposed to do.
The distractions we don’t have any control over include health challenges either for us or our loved ones, failed marriages or businesses, loss of job, childlessness, Coronavirus, etc.
Here’s the thing: the self-inflicted ones are easier to take care of, especially if nipped in the bud. If you make up your mind and commit to getting rid of these pebbles, you can-and you will, probably with some help. For the ones we can’t control, we must do what we can, seek help and all, and then hand the rest over to God. For instance, there’s not much you can do about your spouse’s or parents’ or child’s illness but provide support (material, emotional and spiritual).
Still, pebbles are what they are: distractions. We must make time to regularly review our lives to identify, among other things, the pebbles in our shoes or rather the distractions in our lives. They could be small distractions or big one, but they are distractions all the same and can pose challenges or become limitations in our lives.
While we develop the courage and character to extricate ourselves from the small distractions, we must constantly pray to our maker to help us overcome the big ones or give us the wherewithal, grace and fortitude to cope with or manage them. Never allow a small distraction to grow into a big one because tall oaks from little acorns grow. Be firm, resolute, committed and resolved to shake off the small pebbles or else they’ll ruin your journey through life.
I hope this ministered to you. I’m glad, if it did. I’ll be gladder, if you share the message with others.
Have a great week free from distractions!
*Oparah is Vice President, Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria.