Life itself is like a market — you never truly know when your buyers will come or what they will buy. Every day presents a new opportunity to display your wares, and sometimes, the rewards come from directions you least expect.
Something strange and deeply humbling happened to me this morning at the airport. A middle-aged woman tapped me gently on the shoulder from behind. Before I could even turn around properly, she threw a heavy-weight question at me. “Are you Mr. Wole Arisekola?” she asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
I nodded in affirmation, wondering what was coming next. To my utter surprise, she brought out her phone — and behold, my picture was her display photo! For a moment, two thoughts raced through my mind: Am I under arrest by secret agents? Or is someone trailing me?
But she quickly calmed my nerves with her smile. She said she had been reading my articles online for years and had always prayed for a chance to meet me. She added that she was happily married, and that her husband often teased her, saying, “Babe, your idol has dropped another bombshell!”
We both laughed heartily. I asked when her flight was departing, and she replied that her plane was already on the tarmac, waiting for her. We exchanged warm pleasantries, said our goodbyes, and moments later, my own boarding call echoed through the airport speakers.
That short encounter taught me powerful lessons about life, integrity, and purpose.
First lesson: Men must trust their wives. Imagine your wife using another man’s picture as her display photo — many homes would shake to their foundations! But this woman’s husband understood something deeper. His trust in her showed maturity and respect. It told me that love without jealousy is built on confidence and wisdom.
Second lesson: Whatever you are doing that brings you joy — continue doing it. You do not need anyone’s endorsement before pursuing what fulfills you. I have met countless people who stopped me to take pictures, but never before have I encountered someone I had never met using my picture on her phone. That gesture spoke volumes. It reminded me that your work speaks for you even when you are silent.
In life, you may be born without a name, but through honesty, consistency, and hard work, you can create a name for yourself. Like the Yoruba say, “Ise ni ogun ise” — hard work is the antidote to poverty. Another proverb says, “Bi a ba se daadaa, oruko rere ni a maa fi jeun lola” — if you do things well today, your good name will feed you tomorrow.
So, whatever your hands find to do, do it excellently. Whether you are writing, selling, cooking, or cleaning, pour your heart into it. Fame does not chase mediocrity — it smiles on excellence. When people recognize your sincerity and passion, doors you never knocked on will open for you.
I left the airport that day with renewed gratitude in my heart. That brief encounter reminded me that the world is watching, even when you think no one notices. Your words, actions, and values are seeds — and one day, they will germinate in the hearts of others.
To those who think their efforts are unnoticed, remember this: ọmọ to bá dára, t’ó bá dára, orúkọ rẹ̀ á tó kárí ayé — a child who does well will become known all over the world.
Whatever you want to do, do it well — and fame, in its own time, will surely smile on you.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
