Recently I was passing by a shop when I saw a wall hanging with the writing, "life is short, play naked”. This is just one of the numerous phrases that show us how much life is an enigma.

Every one has got their own recipe to life, but the one that I believe in is that our life is one great story with different chapters that are influenced by the circumstances that surround us during the different stages of life.  

Look at a child with all its innocence, born in a background that it has no control over. The child will be brought up and eventually act in accordance to the environment that surrounds it.

The rich child will get all that it needs – food, clothes, good medical care and education; while the poor child will lack the basic essentials of life.

The poor child will end up being malnourished which will ultimately affect his or her physical and intellectual development; thus affecting his future.

As children grow older, they meet people such as teachers and schoolmates who become very influential in their lives. They are forced to act like their peers, lest they be isolated from the others.

The ‘cool kids’ in school want to hang out with each other (those with the same social status), while the rest are left trying to struggle to be just like them. Doesn’t this make life an act?  

Then comes the time, I would call ‘the apex of returns’ and that is of job seeking. During interviews, we have to say what the interviewer wants to hear in order to impress them; and after getting the job, one is limited to what is expected of him by his boss.

This encourages people to keep their great ideas to them selves, and the vast potential that they posses are often left unexploited.

The other time is when one is looking for a life long partner. When the boy is benching for the girl’s approval, they will act in every manner, it could be exercising an act of patience, or doing the things the lady likes.

Even after winning the girl’s heart, there will be a lot of performing; maybe the girl will set rules to follow in the relationship.

The rules could include: no sex before marriage, we have to meet at least five times a week, marriage has to be looked at in the next one year and so many other rules that could be set to govern a relationship that would later drive to the alter, to say the magic word "I DO”. Life makes us act according to our relations with those around us and as per our societies.

Gabriella is an average girl that grew up in a middle class family. She successfully went through primary and high school; and was in her second year at the university when she met this wealthy guy who promised her heaven on earth.

He bought her all the wonderful things a girl could think of – a nice phone, perfume, nice and classy clothes, shoes, jewelry and a lot of other good things.

Unfortunately, she got pregnant and had to drop out of school. This guy was supportive throughout her pregnancy, rented her a house, paid all her bills and provided all that she needed.

After giving birth, however, this guy became estranged from her and the son. He started coming home once in a while, until he eventually stopped coming at all.

She later learnt that this great guy was married and had four other children. He stopped giving her any financial support and she was left with her son and with no qualification.

From being a girl who had it all, she had to adapt to a life of hard work in order to support her son and her self.

Gabriella’s story just goes to show us how much people can act. Human beings are complex and hard to understand; but your destiny, love and desires are not tied to people. So if they walk away form you, let them go.

Their chapter in your life story is over and we have got to know when this happens!! Life is an act, let it act, and follow the performance. Clinging to last clips and chapters, means holding on to the past. Move on with your life.

Contact: faimimmy@yahoo.com