PEACE, THE PERFORMANCE

 Isn’t it tragic that peace, which was meant to be something normal, is now something we purchased (knowingly or unknowingly) just to stay sane, stay calm, or… just to stay put? 

And it’s even more tragic because we all have different ways to experience this peace. While peace to some people is not hearing noises, peace to the other person could mean waking up to see you’re financially secure. To the next person, peace could be just being alone, with no one around to ask questions or say any words to them. 

Not just in this part of the world but almost all over the world, we have all forgotten what peace really is, and this is because everyone is in one pursuit or the other. What makes matters worse is the internet- social media… because peace is now seen as something aesthetic, something not fun, something validating, in the sense that someone else has to tell you that youre at peace for you to believe you actually are at peace and isn’t it sad? 

Most times, I sit and reminisce about how life really was before everyone became all about social media. How life felt when family times were more appreciated through pictures that didn’t have to make it to instagram or TikTok than carefully edited videos in aesthetically places where you have to go bore yourself in the name of solo dates. Or even times when taking evening strolls was to feel the evening breeze and not to pose under the street lights to show the world aesthetic in the name of serenity. I also miss the times when forgetting your assignments only meant few strokes of the cane from your teacher and not running helter skelter, to and fro a lecturer’s office who’s either ripping you off the money you dont even have or a means of your dignity. I almost forgot the Sundays when everyone is done eating and just sit quietly and work on one or two faults in the house or maybe discuss the ill behavior(s) of that one child in the house… the scolding from the parents, followed by the tears of the child, and then back to everyone joking around (basically a Sunday of reflection in the house, within yourself and family) and not some hangout with “friends” where y’all gist and gist in the guise of “self care Sunday”

 

What exactly is the point of this piece? 

 

Social media has made us believe that life in it’s actual form, comes from aesthetics, hangouts with “friends” and to think we now see peace as something transactional (money, wig, time e.t.c.) makes it even sad. Sometimes, peace doesnt come from money, good grades, or wigs, or cars etc. Sometimes, peace comes from within; the quiet times between you and yourself, those silent wins, the the feeling of getting your spark back, and let’s not forget the moments of truth… when there’s that feeling of accomplishment, growth and purpose.

And it pushes me to ask: “What and when do you feel at peace? Do you find peace because everyone else finds it there?”