Only if we know how heavy the power of emotions is and how far it could go in affecting one’s life. Some people are always having it easy going while some have anger issues, some are cold tempered and others could be naturally calm. The science of emotions has never been equally distributed among everyone. We have it varying in different percentages.
I was in a conversation with a friend of mine so he said some words and expected me to flare up against it. Instead, I was just looking and smiled instead. He was surprised by my reaction. I knew he thought I would find it offensive but I chose to ignore it instead.
His conscience never gave him peace, not until he opened up to me. He asked why I didn’t react negatively to his words. Instead, i smiled again. But this time I responded to him that I never took it to heart, so it was easy to zero it away.
He told me how that same word caused a conflict between him and one of his friends and they are still on a way to have it settled. That's the power of emotion, what someone can endure and feel alright afterward, it might go wrong with someone else.
While I was in the university, it was a trial period that never had it easy as students, the hustle was real. There are times when we would have only breakfast for the day and nothing else. At times it will be a three square meal. All in all, we were all struggling to have a better life.
When I was in my 3rd year I was unfortunate to have my phone stolen. I felt it because then it was a new phone and I hadn't used it for up to two months before it got stolen. My brother lent me one of his phones so I won't miss out on important updates.
I was grateful, but the phone wasn’t delivering well. I need a phone that will do better, so I tried all my best to save up for the money. Most times I will sacrifice my feeding allowance just to make sure I meet up with the price of the phone I want to get.
It took me about 6 months before I could save up enough money to buy a new phone. I planned on getting a new Samsung so it will serve me better. And finally, the money was complete.
The next day I went to buy the brand new Samsung device. I was so happy and overwhelmed with joy. I returned my brother's new phone to him and thanked him for that. Then I started using my new device. Everyone in our hostel rejoiced and congratulated me for it. It was indeed a moment of joy for me.
My roommate on the other hand doesn’t have a phone at all. His phone got damaged beyond repair. So since then, he started lending my phone for some online jobs he claimed to be doing. I told him about the job he said he was doing and that it won’t pay out but instead, he should switch to something else, but he refused.
One evening, just about three weeks after I bought the phone, my roommate came out of the hostel and approached me where I sat outside with some other hostel mates discussing.
He said, Alfa Qudus! Is there a screen guard on your phone?
Hmm. Deep down I knew something had happened.
He showed me my new phone with a cracked screen. I was out of words at that moment and got blanked out. Should I react in anger or what should I do?
I tried as much to control my emotions at that moment. I didn’t say a word to him but collected the phone from him and walked out of his sight. Instead of him to keep shut he was asking me the price to repair the phone. I just nodded my head and moved on. You, who didn’t have money to get a new phone, are asking me the price of a Samsung screen.
I accepted my fate, and for about a week I didn’t utter a word to him. I tried to suppress my anger instead, then got back to my normal self later. Controlling emotions is not something easy but it is something we can have control over.
