I thought of who to give a bit of advice to in response to the hive ghana writing prompt, and without thinking much, my fellow countrymen are the ones in dire need of advice or in better terms, words of encouragement to keep us strong in this difficult times we face. So here it goes...

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Dear Fellow Nigerians,

These are undoubtedly challenging times. Between an economic recession, soaring inflation, naira devaluation, and for some, tragic losses of livelihoods or loved ones, our resilience is being tested. Depression and lost hope seem to be the order of the day. But I implore us to not give up hope.

Let the hardships not take our hunger for better days, and the difficulties bring rift among ourselves, rather, this is the time to check on the well-being of loved ones, neighbours, family, and strangers if you have to, Because there is real hunger in the Land, and it's not about who is working or not, both are feeling the struggle same way now. Our present path may be painful, but it need not be hopeless. There are still affordable ways we can nourish our spirits and strengthen social bonds as we walk hand-in-hand toward the nation we envision.

A popular quote by the legendary Chinua Achebe states that “When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.” Ao true, my dear brothers and sisters, though these troubles have arrived at our doorstep uninvited, taking away our very seats, we must deny suffering its desire to also steal our joy. We must yet create our own stools, new avenues for laughter, avoid fights and disagreement, 'I know una no gree for anybody this year' still maintain Peace.

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We Have Endured Hardship Before

We are no strangers to hardship as a nation. Our parents and grandparents faced a brutal war, political instability, deep ethnic tensions, countless economic downturns, and more over the decades. They cultivated perseverance and even humor to counter the periods of pain. This present generation is even better at this humor thing, thanks to social media, but this time it seems to want to overshadow us, No gree for the hardship, let the humor still make us forget our sorrow for a while.

To endure anything you must find meaning in it, difficult circumstances in and of themselves hold no meaning. We must not let the hardship beat us mentally and take the purpose of our living, don't add to someone's pain, please be sensitive, you don't know what they are going through, this time, all are affected, show care for others in need no matter how little, don't add to the inflation, oh yes, we know how to take advantage of situations, the fact that everything is high doesn't mean you make it worst on your fellow countrymen, this particularly targeted to greedy businessmen, politicians and others on certain office positions.

Reasons for Hope

So before despair sets in, I encourage you to remember the journey does not end here. After the rain, the sun will shine, Nigeria has seen much progress in recent years in technology, and agriculture, we even overcame COVID-19 surges, and we will beat this one too, what ever religion you believe in, please hold on strongly to it, and pray positive prayers for our dear country, it has a way of giving us calm and hope, we are Africans and this is our gift. Nigeria’s best days still lie ahead, let's keep the faith.

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The little change we can bring

Offer Skills/opportunities to Others

Introduce Hive blockchain for instance to friends and family, even strangers, apart from the monetary aspect, Hive also helps us take our minds off worry and instead, we focus on how to be productive.
Use any expertise you have to help neighbors and strangers where possible. Teach sewing, CV writing make-up, hairstyling, etc. to those who lack the opportunity or funds to learn these skills, making a local impact sustains hope as they become more productive to themselves and the community.

Still Find Small Gifts

I tell people that you don't have to be a rich man to be a giver, do,
Scour markets and roadside stalls for inexpensive treats that lift spirits, fruits for that older neighbour, chocolates for those children that greet you on your way back from work, any treats popular in your location at all. Though major purchases are strained, tiny pleasant surprises can shift mindsets.

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My brothers and sisters, I cannot promise this road will be smooth or short. But if we walk in it together in empathy and eager cooperation, stumbling less over hardship and more into each other’s arms for support, we may just discover unexpected change along the way. Our shared story is still unfolding. May the next chapter of Nigeria’s history resound with the voices of hope, harmony and happiness we seek today.Take heart, my friends. This too shall pass. And we will pass through it bonded tighter than before

Thank you for reading❤❤