I could never be like Paul

I've always talked about my dad and how he inspires me in a lot of things that I do today, but if there's someone else that made me see the world differently, it is my friend who for the sake of this post we would call Paul. You see, Paul was one of those guys who never ceased to amaze me with the tremendous amount of goodwill he keeps on doing. He's one of those guys who can restore ones hope in humanity and just give you the feeling that indeed, all is not lost.

He's one of those guys who always wants to help, and this is why whenever it was during the exam period at my school, Paul would ask a friend of his if he could crash at their place for the entire exam duration, not because he didn't have a house of his own, but because he had asked a lot of his friends (who don't live close by) to come stay at his place during the exam period, to make it easier, cheaper and faster for them to get in and out of school. So basically what he was doing was that he would leave the comfort of his home for all of this people and go stay with another friend of his, and he did all of this for free.

This is a guy who whenever we're on our way back home from the field, he would give someone else his water and remain thirsty until we get home, because to him, he feels they need it more than he does.

I remember one day he decided to spend the night at my place because his house was filled up as usual and it was too late for his to leave for his friend's place, so we started talking and I brought up the issue about him agreeing to leave his room. I wasn't asking him the question to cause any trouble, but because I myself was puzzled as to what kind of man he was and I really wanted to know if there was something behind the whole thing that I just couldn't see.

That night, as we both laid on my floor, looking at my ceiling, he had opened his mouth and spoke softly, telling me about how life is simple and how we humans are the ones who choose to complicate it. He basically had said that the only reason he was doing what he was doing was because he found himself in a position where he could help these people and instead of saying no, he chose to say yes.

"See eh, nothing dey this life.. Shey you know?" he had said in pidgin English, which basically was him telling me that there's nothing in this life and we just have to be free and do the little we can to help the people around us who are in need.

That night, something in my head clicked and although I was blown away by how innocent and good this man laying beside me was, I just knew deep down in my heart that I could never be like him, because you don't learn things like this, it comes to you directly from heaven. I could try but I just know I would never be like Paul.

_{Photo by Matthias Speicher that has absolutely nothing to do with this post obviously.}