Thursday 21 March 2013

10 Lessons from Nigerian Railway Transport

It is not what I thought.

My first experience with the Nigerian railway transport is not going to be the luxurious ride I thought it is going to be.

The opportunity of travelling by rail is quite appealing, rather tempting; but it is also trying.

Photocredit: Nigerianmirroronline.
The NRC may officially have a first class and second class coaches, but the truth is, all the coaches are experientially economy class.

In the economy class (my classification) there is indeed the first and second class. The first class (economy) is occupied by those who are privileged to be seated. The second class is occupied by people who stand, hanging from the railing or those who managed to sit on boxes lying across the isles. I was in the second class category.

How does this experience benefit in the regular day-to-day living?

1.    We don’t always get what we want out of life.

2.    There are always periods of waiting. Get used to it. The train always gets going.

3.    People are just people. Just like there are people who pass with us as good and some as not so good, the train is same. Don’t expect too much, but give your best. Mind you people fight.

4.    A personal note: writing gives me the presence of mind to objectively appraise every event during the trip. Thinking and in-depth knowledge of who one is will have the same effect. My thought.

5.    No event, good or bad last. Each event always gives room for another which is either good or bad. Get used to it and enjoy the ride – bus or train or flight or as the case may be.

6.    Life is not always as fast as in a flight neither is it as tedious or as slow as a trek. Whatever your lot, learn to say “all is well”; that is if you are.

7.    Another personal note: how did I, a second class occupier of an economy class coach find space to write this account, considering the facts? Faith. Faith finds way where there seems to be none. Faith that all things are possible that I decide to do. (I wrote most of this account, not a long account anyway,  on the train ride)

8.    Nothing goes for nothing. Do you want a fast life; I mean do you want to get on the fast lane? It comes at a cost. Are you ok with the slow lane? It is also at a price. Whatever lane you prefer, be willing to pay the price.

9.    Life is too short to waste it on complaints. Correct perspectives on every issue will allow us a comfortable ‘pleasure’ even in uncomfortable circumstances.

10.    Life goes on.

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