As a final year medical student doing my medicine
rotation it was time for the mortuary rotation and so we went to the morgue to
among other objectives observe autopsies. We were being cautioned at every step
of the way as to how scary and "dangerous" the place was, not to
mention the need to put on a nose mask (guess the reason).
These were fresh bodies (unlike the old and preserved
ones I saw in my anatomy practical). These were bodies you could hardly tell if
they were asleep or dead. The morgue was opened and I couldn’t stand the sight
of dead and helpless mortals piled on each other. Then the mortuary manager said "that's for last
night".
Let’s do a recap;
these were people who were once the Ahofe Patris, the Attah Millses, the
Bill Gates of their families or better still the poor old rugged drunkard you
passed by on the street the other day or even that lady/guy you've vowed never
to talk to again.
I turned around in the autopsy room and several bodies
were on the tables, but one that caught my eye was a 24 year old "fresh
mother" (delivered few weeks ago) being cut into pieces. At this point I
remembered my accident about a year ago and I thought to myself I would have
been forgotten by now.
Yes! That's how it is; life moves on. At most a few
weeks of mourning and that's it; life moves on! Trust me.
So now I ask the essential questions; has your life
been well lived? Have you taken the pain to realize your purpose on earth or
are you busy chasing the usual requirements that society sets for us;
academics, wealth, fame and power? Remember success doesn't necessarily mean
any of these, it means achieving your life's purpose.
Talking about achieving your purpose, would you prefer
to finish a fight as a winner but blind, with multiple head injuries, broken
ribs or you would want to win an injury free fight, smiling?
What am I driving at? HAPPINESS! Yes, joy. In this
world where doctors say even the water we take has elements predisposing us to
cancers, if you are to die the next moment, would you say your soul has had
enough joy? Or are you waiting to be told you have a cancer that leaves you
with Just few months to live before you start giving yourself the best of
treats?. If you are to breathe your last breath now, are you content with how
happy you are or have been?
Experts say happiness is better when shared, and so
when I talk of being happy. It includes your neighbors as well.
Take it from me; it is a privilege for someone's joy
to be dependent on you because it’s a long living legacy in their hearts, even
when you are long gone.
Finally after this long article, remember you could
breathe your last breathe at any moment, but before that ask yourself the
essential question. Would you be like Paul in the Bible to say I've fought a
good fight? And most importantly, ARE YOU HAPPY? Answer yourself.
Credit:
Henry Xorsenyo Kpeli
President, UG College Of Health Sciences Students
Union (COHSSU)
