This year the rains appear to be a little protracted… mind you, appear to be (not in reality), as compared to the last couple of years. Just because in those years didn’t rain as much intensity doesn’t mean it shouldn’t rain this year (sounded like the expert in metreology). The period of the rainy season normally ends by 1st week of our 2nd month, Tïk’ïmt, October, if I’m not mistaken.
The other day I heard someone being grumpy about the “heavy”, at times, “hasty” rain of Addis Ababa and the surrounding areas. Sitting next to his and his partner’s table at a local restaurant, I and my friend could obviously tell that this person was sick and tired of the current rains, by what he was intensely talking at the top of his voice. (Nonetheless, I guess the nature of rain is all the same elsewhere: I mean, it comes when it has to and goes when it’s finished in its own time). In other words, this is how nature operates – in seasons (so far so good). So, simply being cranky about everything natural doesn’t seem to be OK for a man of senses. A poet once wrote, “As a rule, man is a fool. When it’s hot, he wants it cool. And when it’s cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not.” What a clever observation on human nature! This guy from the restaurant continued complaining how this “exceptionally” heavy rain highly affected the drainage of the roads and, especially, the new highway /k’әlәbәt mәngәd/. He totally held the rains accountable for all the blunders occurred on the roads during the current rainy season. Again, I was not able to buy that idea, too. If we’re really truthful, floods are unpreventable if heavy rain occurs. I agree that heavy rains at times have caused not only floods, but uprooted trees, and even killed innocent people. Nonetheless, the fact that the drainage was not functioning properly has nothing to do with the rain that comes with its own annual “plan”. Most often the root problem hinges on irresponsible individuals who always litter and clog the ducts of our newly built highways or ring roads /k’әlәbәt mәngәd/, letting the floods freely run for long on the freeway, rather than via the water pipes. Unless our misdemeanors are intentionally overlooked, we ourselves are often the problem-creators; the remedies are also available with us, as well: for instance, protecting the water passages from being clogged by trashes and wastes. My question here is why can’t this man (well, I know there are many others like him, too) couldn’t see it in a straight-thinking way? In other words, why do some people often deliberately avoid or like to camouflage talking such daily transgressions of their own? Aren’t these main factors that stand on our way to development? Why do we blame nature for every gaffe? Why can’t we develop a better culture of calling a spade a spade in pinpointing our own setbacks, instead? Albert Ellis once said, “The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You don't blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the President. You realize that you control your own destiny."
In conclusion, I would sincerely suggest (to this dude and any other individual who has similar views) to merely stop groaning and criticizing the rains and start changing their attitudes. I don’t see any reason why anyone should have a chip on his/her shoulders against the beautiful gift of nature! Please, no grievances with the rains! God bless Ethiopia and the world with the rains, as it’s through such a season that we have been able to grow the necessities of life!
Comments