Chapped lips; Our lives are chapped after all.

Written By: Onyiyechi Roseline

Chapped lips; sounds like this is a beauty talk but this is a topic with a twist. I am a health conscious person but if you ask me a lot about beauty and things related to stuffs like that, I may not be useful. Chapped lips indicate that the lips are dry, lack moisture. They indicate a sort of suffering, tiredness, frustration.

So many times we feel like chapped lips. We feel no moisture. All we feel is our evaporation; we are just tired of everything. Tired of having to suffer and suffer but get so little for our effort. Didn’t they say that hard work is the key? Or has the lock changed? 

We are filled with day dreams, things we wish to accomplish. We want to ride that horse they say is only in the dreams. We just want a grasp of that fantasy. Scrolling through Instagram, with all its colorful pictures. So many people are enjoying the life we wish. So many successful people, and you? Just wasting data to drool on other’s success.

But life is so funny. Life is so funny. What you see is not all that there is. Not everyone that looks colorful is enjoying. I will say what I mean even though I think you may know.

There are three group of surviving beings, humans. 

The first beings are those that get what they wish, want and need. They don’t sacrifice any part for any part. This is cloud nine that some people will never taste and maybe for a long time in their generation they may never taste this only dream and dream till they get headaches from dreaming.

Second group are those that have a choice. To either pick their want or need. You either sacrifice one for the other. Wear old dress and eat good good food. Wear well cut out-good fabric and eat measly. This is if you want to be real and stick to what you have without soiling your hands with the dirt everyone says is normal; corruption.

Third group are those without a choice. They only grab what they see, they pray to even see it. They just have that dangling hope that they would see a new day. That they would survive the hunger of the day. They care not for new clothes, latest fashion or even the buzzing news. All they seek is just a daily bread, even if it is only once. They are always chapped.

“Everyone is suffering oh” they say or even exclaim. But truth is some are suffering more than the others, some are dying from it, getting no gain from their sweat.

I do not mean to spoil moods or make this look so melancholic. I still agree with the words ‘not everyone is finding it easy’. Some things are just cover up, at least for those who can, some of us cover up like we are not affected.

Me? It affects my thoughts.  I am in group two and I rather pick food than wears. I rather have my old clothes look neat than have my stomach chambers chapped. I will continue with my contentment principle, caring less for stares.

And you?

First define your group, hopefully you are in group two or you can create a new group yourself. Maybe group 1 and half.

Chapped lips, chapped mind, chapped situations are because something good is missing. Needing moisture, something essential, something refreshing, something needed but doesn’t have. 

I have my chapped issues too, we all do. Whether high or low though some say they rather cry in a making sense Benz than cry on a motorcycle, most probably a rickety rackaty cycle (I know rackaty is not an English word). 

I laugh, you cannot handle Benz issue easily oh! Some of them are very heavy to bear. No wonder you hear group 1 still complaining after having all the wishes and wants. And you are like:

“What in the world do you still want that you don’t have. Wetin na?”

Truth is, group1 still have their own chapped issues. They sometimes they wished they were in group 2. 

Don’t wish you were someone else or try to beat your head over why you were born with a wooden spoon. It was nothing we had control over. We have control of our decisions and time. We have our different passion and is left for each of us to pursue it, make the world a better place.

For those in the last group, they certainly won’t be able to read this unless they are the die-hard who have given up their conscience to get it at all means; that is very sad. We should have compassion on them, those that are striving to eat that daily bread, those that are struggling with menial jobs just to get food caring for nothing else. We may all have our issues but we shouldn’t compare our situations with theirs and when we have the opportunity, we should stretch forth the tender palms of mercy towards them.

Your bowels of mercy will strengthen them for another day. I will just add this story. In 2016, I read about Olajumoke, the bread seller. She made so much waves. When I first saw her picture, I thought she was a real model. Her smile was just so warm and beautiful. Only to hear she was a bread seller.

Bread seller!? Like that? I saw her previous picture and the photo bomb that photo shot her into limelight. It was all because Ty Bello saw something beyond. She couldn’t let that beautiful lady go by. She stepped in.

Now Olajumoke has graced it, seen it, felt it and touched it. I really felt inspired, she had started her day with her struggle but the year ended in bliss and she has kept on for two years. Really inspiring.

One day could be you but if you have the opportunity to relieve someone of their chapped lips now, please do. And if your lips are actually chapped please put ointment or better still, see a Doctor.