Why Being Too Pessimistic? And How Long Are You Going To Dwell In The Kingdom Of Pessimism?

It’s normal to have doubts, or be sceptic or pessimistic as humans but to burry oneself in pessimism is nothing but cancerous says poet/author Gordon Offin-Amaniampong.

I thought some spectators would know by now that the big game is over and it was time to go home. That isn’t the case. Almost two months after the crunch matchup they’ve remained defiant and wouldn’t leave the stadium. They’re still brooding over their team’s loss. Still licking old wounds, what for I don’t know.

They’re already prophesying doom for the winning team.

Who does that a real patriot?
The fast lane is for speeding cars /vehicles so why use it if you know your car cannot keep up with the pace. Best thing to do is to change lane. Alternatively, turn to the curb if you cannot move on and do some soul searching.

If you haven’t gotten the clue yet, stay with me, you’d understand it better by and by.

Don’t think I’m naïve or ignorant. I know how defeat or failure tastes like. I have been there before. Nobody wants to fail but you’ve to remember that in any competition two things are certain---victory and defeat. Therefore, you must learn to accept any outcome.

Don’t blame everybody for your failure. You blamed the referee, you blamed the pitch, and you blamed the other group that cheered their team to victory but never blamed your head coach and the players. The hard truth is, you and your team refused to play by the rules---thought it was all nonsense and immaterial.

Maybe you’re the problem or the reason why we are not moving forward. Maybe you’re pulling the object while we are pushing it. Maybe you are the reason we are having a bad weather. Therefore I implore you to do some self-inventory. I should think that would help. And don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if the symptom still persists.

Better still seek redemption because God has answers to all problems.

When Jonah faced the odds he asked the sailors to cast him into the sea. There was a monstrous storm which made sailing difficult. He figured out God had caused the sea to be rough. So, maybe your attitude contributed to your team’s loss. Do something about it instead of blaming ABCD.

Trump’s victory in the last November US presidential election sparked unrest in some parts of the United States. In Portland Oregon anti-Trump protests stretched into nearly a week. Angry mob took to the streets ---burning and looting property. Stores were looted and torched, cars were vandalised and some streets were blocked.

Their action got law enforcement agents busy-- ensuring that things didn’t get out of control but it did in some areas as we witnessed chaotic scenes in the streets. Seattle in Washington State witnessed a couple of protests after his victory.

They weren’t happy and perhaps still not happy about the election of the soon-to-be-sworn-in Republican candidate Donald John Trump. On Friday 20 January 2017 the maverick will be inducted into office for his first term as the 45^th president of the US. And whether you like him or not he’s our president.

You probably didn’t vote for him. I didn’t.

And you probably never wished he was elected. But you aren’t God. You don’t hold the key to ones’ destiny or fate. God knows best and he opposes when we propose. Mr. Trump is our President.

Democrats have won the state of Oregon since 2000. But Oregonians had voted almost exclusively Republican from its founding until 1984, except 1868, 1912 and 1984 and the four elections won by Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression and World War II.

God has his plan for everyone. And what is still your beef?

On December 7, 2016 voters in Ghana elected Mr. Akufo-Addo as president. The people were unhappy about the state of Ghana’s economy and the way government officials carried themselves. They are familiar with the problems confronting the nation. And they know the change they voted for wouldn’t happen overnight. Even a third grader needs not be told.

Like Abiba, she wakes up in the morning often with no breakfast. She sees her mom and dad quarrel over ‘chop money’. She sees the anger and the frustrations in their face--the continued struggle and hustle a mother of four has to endure every single day. Dad’s inability to get his 1984 Volvo car back on the road drives her crazy. But she’s learned to put up with that---standing in long ques for ‘Trotro’ after school.

Nobody needs to tell her about what’s going on. She doesn’t need the finance minister to explain it in big English---‘Macro and Micro Economy in stagnation. What’s that?

Abiba and her siblings are driven away from class often for non-payments of school fees. She’s lived with the problems. The continued power outages and pitch darkness that goes for weeks, the water problem in their area. She knows it all. The little one understands that life is too tough for the family and many Ghanaians.

But she sees her parents work around the clock. And so she’s hopeful, things will get better. She’s optimistic there’s light at the end of the tunnel and therefore the problems she and the family are facing today will be a thing of the past. She doesn’t pray the worse should happen to her parents. Or something calamitous must occur.

Instead she wishes them well, prays they return home with monies and goodies. She prays her dad will get his car fixed; mom will be able to fix them hot grits in the morning and their school fees get paid by them. That’s the wish of Abiba.

Sometimes she becomes a bit sceptical and wonders:
Who will feed me and my siblings if they (our parents) don’t come back home?

Or what would happen if they return with no food, no money?

Who would take care of them?
Nonetheless, young Abiba has ever remained faithful and hopeful. And she has never prayed evil should happen. Her best wishes have always reflected on the results—that in the midst of the hardship the family is still alive.

Since Mr. Akufo-Addo was sworn-in on Saturday January 7, 2017 as the fifth president of the Fourth Republic there are some people who haven’t come to terms with that reality yet. And they haven’t also hidden their dislike for this president. Must the president be liked by all or everyone?

The answer is absolutely no. Is it wrong for them to ask for good governance, accountability, tax /tariff reduction, quality education, uninterrupted utility services etc.? I don’t have any problem with such demands. The problem I have with them is their lust after pessimism.

I worry about their prayers that things get worse and nothing works for good. One may ask: Do they really love Ghana and are they patriots?

Why are they still licking old wounds almost two months after the December 7 polls?

I’m referring to these guys who perhaps didn’t expend a dime or pesewa in financing the NDC party yet they seem to be the ones moaning harder like doves. Can someone cry more than the child who has lost the mother or parents?

Why are some people behaving like the proverbial ‘Kramo Bone’?

Does the Muslim cleric think that he will survive the shipwreck as that has been his prayer and wish every day?

Come out from the woods you hermit. Think positive, be optimistic and spurn pessimism.