Weekend engagement. week #265: Have You Looked Around the Town You Live and Felt You Don’t Love It? Why?

Yes, I have. There are moments I look around my town and just sigh deeply, wishing things were different. It’s a fairly busy place, filled with people going about their day, some selling, some hawking on the streets, others picking scraps to sell, some clearing bushes, and many more just moving up and down with no clear direction. It’s a town that never really rests. At first glance, one might think it's full of energy and life. But beneath all that activity lies a list of things that make me feel disconnected from this place.

My real concern is not with the hustle and bustle. I understand that everyone is trying to survive. What saddens me the most is how unkempt and neglected the environment is. The gutters that are meant for proper drainage are always blocked, filled with trash, plastic, and stagnant water. Whenever it rains, it becomes a complete disaster.

Floods take over the streets, and moving around becomes a risky adventure. With the roads being so bad and the ground uneven in many areas, it’s easy to miss your step. If you’re not careful, you could step into a deep hole hidden under the water and fall. The town only feels safe to move around during the dry season.

Moreso, lack of trees is also one thing I frown at in my town. You know trees also serve as a windbreaker, keeping our roofs from being blown away during strong winds; something we badly need in areas where rooftops are often damaged because there are no trees to slow down the wind.

Then there’s the issue of insecurity. We have too many bad boys who refer to themselves as “street lords.” These boys have made the nights dangerous and uncomfortable. They gather in groups at street corners, drinking, smoking, and gambling. Their presence alone can make one feel uneasy. They don’t just stop at these habits, they steal. If you leave anything outside unattended, especially at night, there's a high chance it will disappear by morning. They snatch phones, especially during scuffles or arguments, pretending to be mediators only to run off with people’s belongings. Their activities have caused many people to become overly cautious and live in fear.

Another sad part is that most of these boys are young and full of potential. But with little or no opportunities for growth, and with no guidance or meaningful engagement, they fall into the wrong crowd. It’s painful to see youths who could be doing something better with their lives wasting away in crime and idleness.

Sometimes, I imagine what my town could look like if it had proper drainage systems, good roads, streetlights, and community programs that kept young people engaged positively. I imagine a cleaner, safer, and more hopeful environment. But until then, I can’t say I truly love this place the way I wish I could.

I stay here because it’s home but home shouldn’t feel like a battlefield of discomfort. That’s why I often look around and feel a quiet longing for something better.

Thanks for reading
@ritaetim