Writers 
### THE VALUE OF WHAT WE HAVE: A LESSON WE OFTEN LEARN TOO LATE
Honestly ba, one truth about life that I have come to understand is that sometimes, we don't really know the value of something until we lose it. It's funny how we can have something so precious right in front of us and still behave as though it's nothing special. We keep living as if everything will remain the same forever, forgetting that life itself is full of unexpected changes.
Take, for instance, some children, especially in this our Nigeria. Some still have both parents alive, and mind you, my own parents are still alive o! 😌 But sometimes, I sit down and wonder if we truly appreciate the blessings we have. Maybe I'm also guilty sometimes, I won't lie, but ahbeg, some people really need to think about this.
Imagine having both parents around you, having the opportunity to talk to them, laugh with them, receive their advice, eat together, and create beautiful memories, yet you barely appreciate those moments. You wake up every morning and see them, so you begin to feel like their presence is something ordinary. You forget that not everybody has that privilege.
Some people would give anything just to have one more conversation with their parents. Some would wish they could go back in time and correct certain mistakes, spend more time with them, listen more carefully, or simply give them one more hug. They would probably cherish those moments differently because they now understand what it means to miss someone who can never return.
And then there's this generation. 😂 Honestly, sometimes I wonder what we're really doing. Instead of enjoying the beautiful moments happening right in front of us, some people are busy trying to capture everything on their phones just to post it online for followers who may not even care.
Every little gathering must be recorded. Every family moment must become content. Every laugh must be filmed. Ah-ah! Who told you everybody watching your status genuinely cares about your happiness? 😭
Don't get me wrong, taking pictures and videos isn't bad. Memories are beautiful, and having something to look back on can be lovely. But there's a difference between capturing a moment and actually experiencing it.
Sometimes, we're so busy trying to show the world how happy we are that we forget to enjoy the happiness itself.
The real memories are the ones you're living right now. The conversations, the laughter, the little arguments, the family gatherings, the ordinary days that may not look special today but could become the very things you miss tomorrow.
Because the truth is, nobody knows tomorrow.
People die. People grow. People fall in love. People leave. People move to different locations. People change. Relationships change, circumstances change, and sometimes the people we thought would always be around us are no longer part of our everyday lives.
That's just life.
One day, the house that used to be noisy may become quiet. The people you used to see every day may become people you only speak to over the phone. The moments you once ignored may become the memories you wish you could experience again.
And that's why I believe we should learn to appreciate what we have while we still have it.
If your parents are alive, cherish them. If your family is around you, value the time you spend together. If you have people who genuinely love and care about you, don't take them for granted. If you're currently in a situation that gives you happiness, learn to appreciate it instead of constantly wishing your life away.
You don't have to wait until something is gone before you realize how precious it was.
Sometimes, the greatest blessings in our lives are hidden inside the ordinary moments we barely pay attention to.
So please, whatever situation or stage of life you're in right now, value it wholeheartedly. Enjoy the memories you're creating. Love the people around you. Be present. Take pictures if you want, but don't forget to put your phone down and actually live.
Because life doesn't promise that everything will remain the same.
And honestly, I think one of the saddest feelings in the world is realizing the value of something only after you've lost the opportunity to appreciate it.
So while you still can, cherish what you have.
Because tomorrow is never promised, but the memories you create today may be the ones your heart holds onto forever. ❤️