9 important lessons from the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga as Ghanaians

What does this even have to do with Ghanaians, who cares? This is not even about the Russia-Ukraine war. Life teaches us lessons on a daily basis, in many instances through pain, suffering and lack. It doesn’t matter who it happened to, know that it may happen to you too, in another form. Okay, remember when you were advised on that issue several times, but only paid heed when calamity struck? Check out these lessons from the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga as Ghanaians.

There’s a saying  in Akan , “ Gyae no ma no nk). S3 )k)pim a, )b3 san aba”. This literally means, let him/her have her way, when they reach the end of their rope, they’ll come back. 

Depending on the gravity of the matter and the circumstances, jokes about trauma can be tolerable.

Why should Ghanaians learn lessons from the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga?

Whether it was intentional like the prodigal son in the Holy Book or not is not our concern here. True, sometimes we learn better when we get into trouble, but what about the regret of the 80-year-old woman; the single mother who contracted HIV/AIDS in her youth; the people whose reputations have been ruined by social media engagements when they were young and wild and the man who is now the father of a football team and still counting? The past stays in the past, we learn from the mistakes and move on with life, making things better for others in the same situation. Honestly, sometimes don’t you think about how life could’ve been on the other side? 

Decisions are easier to make compared to the consequences of living with negative implications.

It was the 94th Academy Awards, and Will Smith had been nominated as best actor for the most recent movie he starred with Venus and Serena Williams titled, “King Richard”. His fellow black man and comedian, Chris Rock, then made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, his wife’s shaved head, then bam! He got slapped in the face, totally unexpected (amidst laughter). Jada’s shaved head was a result of a hair loss illness called alopecia areata. 

What is alopecia areata?

An incurable hair loss condition where the immune system attacks the hair follicles, creating bald patches on the scalp. It can be caused by extreme stress.  Some might probably not have heard about this condition if not for the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga.

This post is not to judge who was right or wrong but to learn from this incident.

Watch the video below if you haven’t done so already.

Let’s learn a thing or two from lessons from the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga as Ghanaians/Africans.

1. When you tease someone and their reaction changes or they plainly tell you they don’t like it, don’t push it.

2. You’re not responsible for people’s opinions of you, but you’re responsible for how you react in response to the situation. Learn to control your emotions.

3. When angry, either leave the room to calm your nerves, remain unresponsive for a while or let a minute pass. Just don’t react immediately, you’re likely to make a mountain out of a molehill and regret it later.

4. Apologize, when you realize you have faulted, no matter how long it takes. It will be genuine when you realise this, not when you’re told to do so, or everyone expects you to apologize. 

5. People have different tolerance levels, even in different situations. You don’t know what someone may be going through. Don’t make jokes about other people’s trauma, be sensitive. Let them talk about it and laugh, sometimes there’s a lot of pain in a person’s laughter.

6. Life is already serious as it is, stop hating yourself and playing back the past when you can have a few minutes, hours, days or months to enjoy what life has to offer. Cheer up!

Nightbirde has a message for you, below.

 

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7. Lastly, it is easier to criticize others when you haven’t been through what they have. You could be worse off if you walked in their shoes. Don’t be quick to judge, for in the same measure you judge, you will be judged. I saw a quote the other day that said, “Until you’re affected, It might not bother you”.  Guess you now get the reason why you’re also affected by the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga as Ghanaians. 

8. You are great at what you do, it’s not a lie. It’s just that you don’t believe in yourself as much as you should. This is not pride, it is recognising who God has made you be, be it a comedian, writer, or actor. Even before you write your first book, make your first joke or act as a chicken in a movie, you’re good.

READ ALSO: How to discover your purpose in life

9. A united front always wins. Let us support our fellow Ghanaians. Let the support of your fellow Ghanaians be worth it, too. Together let’s make Ghana indeed great and strong.

READ ALSO: 5 essential reasons why character matters

Let’s end with these leadership quotes by the first President and Prime Minister of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Africa is one continent, one people and one nation.

– Kwame Nkrumah

 

We face neither East nor West; We face forward.

– Kwame Nkrumah

 

Those who would judge us merely by the heights we have achieved would do well to remember the depths from which we started.

~ Kwame Nkrumah

 

All people of African descent, whether they live in North or South America, the Caribbean, or in any part of the world are Africans and belong to the African nation.

~ Kwame Nkrumah

These lessons from the 2022 Will Smith slapping saga as Ghanaians, and Africans at large are helpful to our growth and development as a nation and continent. If you have been in a similar situation or regret doing or saying something in the past, don’t live there. My aunt would say, even people die. Once you have life, there’s hope no matter the situation. If you have been hurt in the past about something sensitive, let go, even if you never got an apology. You don’t need anyone else’s opinion to move on, except yours. When you recognize this, you’ll begin to heal. That’s what lessons are for—healing.  –Lawrencia and Emmanuella