Sunday 14 June 2015

In Pursuit of a Defining Purpose by Pamela Efobi

As I gazed through the tiny misty window of the speed boat on my way to work that Tuesday morning, I couldn’t help but marvel at God`s creation. The large expanse of water, the 40-sitter boat waving dangerously from side to side as the merciless waves tossed her around, the fishermen in the far distance expertly casting their nets, some children on a small canoe waving at us as we sped past, a hint of yellow in the skies above as the sun prepared to come out of its hiding. I shook my head in wonderment.

A crackle on the television which was suspended on the wall inches from where I sat snapped me out of my reverie. I welcomed the distraction as I sat back to enjoy the movie which happened to feature my beloved Bollywood actors. I had come to prefer them to our own Nollywood. Moments later, the television went from showing brightly coloured dancing people to “searching for signal”. Na wa! 

I lost myself once more in my daydream. How I envied these actors as they seemed to derive absolute pleasure in their vocation. I recall my childhood dreams of wanting to one day become an actress, a songstress, a tailor, and finally a writer simply because I was addicted to the popular Mills & Boons novels. I look at my life now, my current occupation is in the complete opposite direction. But the question I ask myself is whether I am truly happy as an IT Support Engineer. Would I not be happier if I were an Image Consultant by day? …because I love fashion and all it stands for. Or even happiest as a freelance writer by night? ...did I mention that I express myself better in writing?

Like me, a lot of people are constantly in pursuit of that defining purpose in life, the perfect career, the perfect partner or the perfect marriage. But at the end of the day, it is the ability to understand oneself and what makes one happy that really count. 

I believe that some day I will find that one job, that one passion that will transcend all things. And only then will I be content that I have truly found peace in doing what makes me happy and what defines my purpose in life.


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