The Hand That Works; Equals The Heart That Grows

In this present world, a lot of people tend to attach someone's worth to their title or position, while they tend to forget that true growth begins with labour. One of the things that I have understood is that there is divinity, beyond what you can even imagine, in labour. Not just that, there is also something very beautiful and noble about labour. This is beyond the rewards that you stand to gain from it, but the transformation that it brings with it. If you see someone that labours, who is industrious, you will understand that there is a mentality that they possess that will make them grow and be productive even beyond work. This is why when you begin to work and earn your money, you will know the value of each kobo. Working brings value to one's life.

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Labour, even though it is viewed by some as a means of survival or to earn a living, but beyond that, it shapes one's character. I know a friend who did not know about time management while growing up and even throughout his university days. In fact, he did not know how to deal with time, and would always take timing unseriously. He would show up late for events and so on. But when he finished from school and completed his mandatory 1 year service period, he got a job with one of the top tier commercial banks. Funny enough, the distance from his home to his work place was more than 30mins away. He learnt time management. His office resumes by 7:30am, yet he has never been late for work. The same person who used to be careless with timing now manages time effectively. The work and his labour shaped his character and he became better.

When you put in honest effort in what you are doing, it will begin to build your character, it will make you more resilient and more disciplined, with a sense of purpose. For example; a student who is diligent with their academics will study their books even when there is no exam in view and he will even make it a habit. A farmer who is committed to his farming activities will farm even in the sun and in the rain. A civil servant who shows up everyday for work with joy, etc. Labour is doing more than just a task, it is a mindset, a lifestyle, and a way to develop oneself from within to outside.

It is so unfortunate that in this era, a lot of people are looking for shortcuts and have been possessed with the illusion of get-rich-quick mentality. This is why they no longer look at the process or the journey but the destination. Social media is also part of the enablers of this - where flashy lifestyle is being glorified and celebrated without showing the hardwork behind it. I once read a post on one of the social media platforms where one lady was demeaning a guy because of the work that he does, which he posted about. He was into sewage disposal. She even made a sarcastic comment that she rather remains idle than to engage in such a "shitty" work. Funny enough, the guy that she was laughing at, in real life owns about 2 houses and some nice cars, all gotten from the sewage business. He was not ashamed of his labour and it made him grow financially.

You do not have to be ashamed of what brings income to you. As long as it is legal and it is right and rightly done, then there is dignity in it. You may not even have the privilege to start big, but still start from where you are. A lot of people started small and with consistency and dedication, have grown massively. Everyone you see today as a great leader, entrepreneur, innovator, all started somewhere, and some even started very little. It does not matter how you started and from where you started, what matters is that you are proud of your labour and that you put in efforts to see it grow.

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Anything that is done with integrity is honourable and dignifying. As a matter of fact, a bricklayer, a mechanic, or even a welder that is honest and does his labour with integrity and with excellence has more honour than a crooked politician that steals public funds. There is no profession that should be looked down on. If you are a barrister for example, you cannot fix your car, so the services of a mechanic is also important. You cannot also fix your soakaway pit when it gets filled, so the services of sewage people are required. The community works because each profession works, and they play vital roles to the sustenance of the society.

Thanks for reading