KELVIN

Once upon a time there lived two good friends that grew up together.

They are well known by the community. Their family house is just two blocks away from each other.

Time went by, they became adults and due to how close they had been they ended up working in the same company but just that this time around they are not living in the same area though the area which both live is not far. Fifteen-minute drive can take them when they want to visit each other.

As we all know, people are not the same. We all have different character and attitude but despite their differences they were able to stick together through thick and thin.

Kelvin usually goes to Donald for advice. Whenever something comes up the first person he runs to or calls is Donald. Even in the office Donald gives Kelvin advice on how to go about with the people in his department.

In one of their conversations, Donald stated a saying “when your neighbor is in need, help first think later”. Kelvin said “you think so?” Mm-hum replied Donald.

A faithful day came when one of Kelvin's neighbors came and knocked at the door. He responded and behold the neighbor was here looking for financial help.

This neighbor moved just a week ago. Nobody really knows him, nor has anyone seen someone pay him a visit.

The neighbor gave out his explanation and the amount he needs for this problem to be solved and it is an urgent matter. He also promised to pay back in no time.

Kelvin having registered what Donald once told him coupled with the fact that he was moved by his neighbor’s story he immediately gave out the money.

On getting to the office the next day he told Donald about yesterday and thinking maybe the amount is not much Donald didn’t ask how much it was he only said “you did good”.

Evening came and everybody went home. On reaching home Kelvin was told his neighbor moved during the morning hours. That he will be leaving town because he was called home.

Kelvin couldn’t take a step from where he was standing. He called Donald to rush down to his house.

Donald was shocked by the call that he ended up reaching his friend’s house in less than ten minutes.

He walked into his friend’s apartment and found him on the floor looking so drained. Donald asked him what went wrong because they left the office laughing and chatting.

Kelvin just said “my neighbor moved with my money”.

Donald giggled, are you for real? Don’t you have his contact?

No, answered Kelvin. Besides, how much is even the money we are talking about here Donald asked.

Kelvin lifted his head, looked at Donald and didn’t say a word. He stood up and went straight to his room coming out with a brown diary in his hand. He gave it to Donald and laid there in the three-sitter covering his face with a pillow.

Donald opened the diary and checked the date he told him he lent out the money. When Donald saw it he shouted. He snappily lifted the pillow off Kelvin’s face and said “bro, how come you gave out this large amount of money without thinking first? Besides, whenever we want to make use of large amounts of money, we talk to each other. How come you ended up with this?”

Kelvin moved to a sitting position, looking Donald in the eye he said with a broken heart “you told me when a neighbor is in need, help first think later.” Donald cut in and said “what!”

“Let me finish Donald, you said it and how was I supposed to think straight at that point in time when that is what has been registered in my head. I… I…”

Kelvin started stammering as if to cry. He held Donald’s legs while pushing himself off the chair to the floor. Donald sat next to him and put his hands on his shoulder trying to comfort him. He told him not to worry they can recover from this.

You see, in this life one needs to take note of two things.

First, what you register in your head. We all hear a lot of things as the day goes by. Be it direct or indirect, words keep getting into our ears but we have to be mindful of what we register in our head. And what we trust easily gets its way to us.

Why we have to be mindful of what we register in our head is because such things are what display themselves in every given situation. Consciously or unconsciously, we exhibit them because that is what we have in store and it is what you have in store that you can use to solve problems.

Secondly, we just have to think at every point in time. We have to be calculative; we have to reason out some things. Let not every word that comes into your ear have a place in your head.

Let not every situation that comes to you be solved with what you are told because situations differ, it might be the same story line but different situation.

The need for help comes in different ways but it will be wise to think first and look into the situation before acting because there is help that might end you in bigger trouble.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t help but all I’m saying is think first.

Try to keep what you believe in, what you register in your head in check and always think before you act.