well, if you MUST....

We came across this sign during our last weekend in Botswana. We were at once repulsed and intrigued by it; we hated that it existed, but at the same time, we knew its existence was appropriate and, in this context, even perfect. It was as if we suddenly understood the two months of interactions we had engaged in and consciously avoided, as if someone had simply come up to us and effortlessly explained all the frustrations we had spent so many of our nights trying to express.

Here, smacked onto an official piece of plastic, is (edit: what I believe to be) the attitude of Botswana. It acknowledges a less than ideal state without necessarily seeking to improve it. It voices a desire to reach higher but discards the element of personal responsibility, instead suggesting that “Well, I can’t really do that much about it, so maybe someone else will.” There is no shame, it seems, in comfortably lounging around all day, dreaming of the better life but openly relying on--and even begging for--some more ambitious character to create it for you.


During the past few weeks I've been home, despite all the voices telling me I am the only one who can do anything for myself and for my future, I think I've sadly resorted to adopting this sign's attitude.