‘The Joy Of Missing Out’

Lagos is a city of hustlers. Everyone is involved in some activity, whatever it is. From CEOs attempting to swarm their coffers with more money, Danfo drivers continually locked in a competition to ferry people to various destinations, Civil Servants trudging to their desks at some upholstery-kitted office, inventors trying to get the solution to Nigerian peace, Agberos striving hard to make quick cash, and thieves patrolling the streets and dark corners for some victim. Everyone is involved in some sort of money-spinning scheme.

For me, Joey Akan, I’m a writer (and occasional presenter and troublemaker), striving to have a taste of what life has to offer, experience living the way I want, grow in the manner I dream of, and contribute to the planet in some little way. But sometimes everything gets so busy.

I once found a way to escape my ‘tush’ air-conditioned office for a day, without my bosses screaming down my neck with targets and deadlines, artistes, musicians and their managers, ringing my phone or sending me their creative works to disseminate, or ladies trying to get me to commit to some relationship. For once I was free.

There was no hassle, no stress, no care, no fear of missing out on some beneficial activity, or an opportunity to grow. All I felt was peace and freedom. I decided to tour Lagos and see life from a detached perspective. That day, I didn’t consider myself an inhabitant of Lagos involved in the entire daily struggle. I was an outsider, looking on from an impersonal angle.

I felt joy touring Lagos, not because I saw lots of attractions, but because I felt joy, a deeper feeling of happiness, freedom and exhilaration that comes from missing out on it all. For the first time since I moved to Lagos, I felt the joy of missing out.

Missing out on the traffic jams, the rude swears and curses, street fights, stress, harassment by touts and police alike, the approach from sex workers, the invasion of weed, the overwhelming feeling of activity, and most importantly, the general hustle was rewarding. I felt reborn, and so can you.

Take time out to do nothing today, and just experience the joy of missing out on Lagos. It pays, big time.

Don’t fail to contact me and share your story if you have ever experienced it. And if you want to know how to attain the joy, shoot me an email.

See you next week. Peace and good hustle.