Lucid Mind

by Melissa Chekwa

Stop and imagine this, you are a million kilometers from home and it's a winter season but you packed more summer clothes than you did winter clothes because well it's super hot where you are from. If you haven't heard that part you better check out the latest episode of The View From Here Podcast .

Listening to the podcast, you would wish you were Charmaine with of course better wardrobe decisions. I mean who doesn't want to be in China, rather who doesn't want to leave Zimbabwe. The achievement she is yet to complete is attaining a degree in Medicine, Surgery to be specific. Like how big can that be. Now right there is not only plausible in an African context but world wide. Every parent wants their child to be a doctor guys, a lawyer. Yes this might be the 21st century but you rarely find parents supporting "low" career paths.

I recently told my mom that I want to venture into a cleaning business and her response was not what I expected. She was hurt and disappointed that I would rather choose that than look for a job that will pay off as someone who is about to be a Journalism and Media Studies graduate. It got to me for that time. Let's face it guys, working for someone is not something that one should aspire for. It's so retrogressive in so many ways and I don't want to subject myself to that.

The podcast really made me believe that it's not just my mom, the world is like that. Africa is like that. Venturing in your own thing is regarded as time wasting because 'you could be looking for a job where you would be toiling for a whole lot of valuable money' right?? They want you where you can get pension. But at what cost? The whole process just makes loving school on top of all the pressures it comes with, a difficult thing to accomplish.

This doesn't just apply to medicine but every other program out there. Either the highly esteemed ones or the other ones. Being a student is tough. There is so much that you have to deal with. At some point you go through depression for just like a number of reasons that could be 'useless' when you try to relay them to parents. You could be failing to understand the module that the most is cruising in, could be feeling out of place most of the times because you are no where near varsity trends, you could be lacking structural support.

Depression is real guys and it gets even realer (if that's a word🤭) when your parents tell you that you are not depressed yinyongo efuna ekugajwa from all the food they are buying for you in the comfort of their home.

Our parents, we love and we know they would go extra miles trying to give us comfort. But I think the conversations about depression must infiltrate dinner tables and family times, saloons, work spaces, buses, everywhere because tjoh this is real. They should know that as much as we appreciate everything else; mental and emotional comfort is as important as physical comfort that makes sure I have a roof over my head. I am not putting all parents under the bus but a fair share of them don't consider mental and emotional health as long as the child goes to school, has a roof, food and everything 'essential'.

No matter what and how we go through on our way to the ultimate goal, let's learn to live and let go. Excessive studying is okay but I don't totally agree with it. Yes we want to impress our family but let's learn to put ourselves first. Take some time out, invest in yourself; retail therapy bafethu, love yourself more, do friends, go for outings, listen to music. Anything to give the mind a well deserved pampering. To all my friends reading here, 21 August I am divorcing you if you don't pitch up, we are cutting off toxicity Lol 😆 .

Above all take care of your mental health because it would be really such a shame to reach the finish line with a messed up head. We want to meet again as our own bosses.

Remember to stay safe. Love and light from The View From Here!! Spread your own!!

#liveandletgo