An Ode To The People Still Living

People are dying every single day.

Not to sound morbid, but it’s the truth. From those we know directly (or indirectly) within our circles to those we hear about in the news (e.g. activists, public health workers in conflict zones, local change agents, and celebrities) — people are dying.

I heard about a lot of deaths in Q1 of 2019 and saw a lot of outpouring of love, appreciation, and respect for those people on social media — which is important and meaningful.

While death serves as an incredible catalyst to remind us of the beauty and impact that the people we knew, or knew of, had (and still have) on us, I daresay it’s more meaningful to people to be honored while alive. To remind them when they’re experiencing great highs, or struggling through great lows, that they are valuable and matter.

The truth of this has been on my mind recently and now have a strong urge to reach out to the people that have had and/or still have a positive impact on the way I act, think, or love (as of today) to tell them thank you, as well as inform them of what they specifically did and why it mattered. They might know they’ve had an impact however they might not, and I don’t want to take the chance of them not ever knowing.

So, while the momentum is high, I am embarking on a 31-day gratitude challenge to do exactly that. Each day during the month of May, I will tell someone I know (family, close friend, co-worker, those I’ve encountered though not necesarily close to at this time) thank you and affirm the value-add they have provided — either in person or via call or via any other means I choose to do so. I don’t want to wait until death shows up again and respond with an “Eiyaa, if only he/she had known how much he/she meant to me.”

If you’re compelled to join in the challenge, I welcome you to do so. If not, I understand — we’re not all moved to do the same things or to do them at the same time. Some were compelled much earlier in their lives to get their fit fam game on point — as for me, Nwanyibuife Obiako, it is not the same case :)