Seasons greetings

I woke up this morning, the harmattan so wild and despite shutting all my windows the cold chills still got me shivering under my cover cloth. I said to myself this season is worth writing about. There is something special about the last 10 days of the year. The weather changes all of a sudden, the atmosphere changes, excitement fills the air, people begin to prepare for holidays even private companies and conglomerates are forced to give holidays to their workers. It’s a season that knows no barriers, no restrictions, no dull moments. It’s a period of giving, sharing, meeting, reuniting, spending time with family and loved ones. Even the weather in this period is cool and relaxing (you will agree with me that harmattan is far better than heat).

What makes this season so special? Is it purely scientific? Is it the fact that we celebrate Christ, is it because of the geographic calendar? Or is it just meant to be?

Another fact to consider is stepping into the New Year. Could the fact that one is stepping into a new year be the reason for the season turnaround and excitement? According to Brian W. Carter, the word to describe this season is ‘joyful’. It is one of the busiest times of the year as well for store owners especially as people flock into stores to take advantage of sales and bargains, besides a lot of people want to shop for family and friends. People travel far and wide to be with loved ones throughout the nation and the world at this point in time.
Although there are people who do not celebrate the holiday due to their practices or beliefs but it is a proven fact that people naturally become happier at this time of the year. With individuals having different plans for the new year, new year resolutions some people even make it an obligation to enter into the new year as newly wedded couples, landlords or landlady, new car owners or new job owners. Everybody sees this period as a time to shed off the old and wear a new present or attitude.

I know that in years to come, if I have to write about this season again at this period, I would have interesting stories and testimonies to share more interesting facts and they will all be pointers to the fact that this season naturally encourages love, gladness and sharing. It’s a season that one wishes lasts forever.

What is seen and what is not seen

In the society, a habit or action produces two effects, the seen effect and the unseen effect. It is therefore wise and smart to often take into consideration both effects in any situation.
In companies, organizations and even in Nigeria there is always an open and a hidden part or side to everything. There will always be certain things and issues clear for all to see, consequences and activities clear for all to see while at the same time there will be underground details, hidden activities and issues.

What the society fails to realize is that both effects not just one of the effects affects the society. What I’m saying is every decision actually both seen and unseen have an influence on the people in the society. One way or the other we suffer for various consequences as a result of the seen effects of our actions as well as the hidden repercussions. What makes it worse is the fact that we not only suffer consequences of our actions we also suffer consequences of other people’s actions. I remember in NYSC camp when the toilets were always messed up and we had to ‘yansh up’ or ‘squat down’ on the parade ground for hours.several curses rained on ‘THE UNKNOWN’ culprit. Read this scenario;

Sandra needed money to buy new clothes, she had already gotten wardrobe allowance from her parents but she needed to get more expensive clothings, she decided to inflate her textbook fees and also lie to get money from her father. Her father of course fell for the trick and gave her more money than needed.

Two weeks later a fight ensued between Sandra and her younger sister, her sister had taken one of the gowns without her consent, Sandra had gotten angry and demanded her cloth angrily and the sister in a bid to payback reported how Sandra had deceived their father. Sandra was scolded and punished by her father for lying.

A month after, Sandra’s sister needed to pay for her school’s yearbook and excursion, on presenting the issue and amount, their father raised an eyebrow and implied that she was trying to play the same trick as her sister. Lets analyze this scenario ;

The seen effects;
Sandra sowed a seed of distrust

Sandra was able to buy the clothes but her sister began to struggle for it with her and she didn’t want to share.

Sandra’s father punished her.

The unseen:
Sandra’s father may never entrust his children with money or believe any money issue they put forward.

This may cause his children to seek other means of getting money

Sandra had unknowingly place a ban on collecting money easily from their father.

Another scenario is in the manufacturing industry, when companies increase the quantity of products in the name of bonanzas and raffle draws and the likes. What is seen is an increase in quantity but what isn’t seen by the society is the fact that the ingredients used have been reduced, quality of the products decreased just to increase the quantity and deceive people.

So at the end of the day, the companies are not really doing the society a favour but it is the other way round, more profit for the companies.

All in all we must always realize that there is always two sides to every coin, never get carried away, like the popular joke ‘this is not my real face’ somethings are not what they seem and individuals are quick to change in the face of situations.
There are hidden details in situations and circumstances and it will be wise if all possibilities, all possible effects are explored and considered.