Seven years by the band Lukas Graham is a song filled with life lessons. It is a song that gives me an understanding of another man and his cultural view on life.

The writer talks about how he was prompted by his mom to leave the comfort of familial love and go seeking for friendship that will take away the loneliness he is not even aware is there.

How do I know he doesn’t know he is lonely? Have you ever seen a seven-year-old in the company of his mother complain of loneliness? I haven’t. Have you?

He also talks about the confidence a child has in his own knowledge. As a child, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know everything. It is this confident naivety that gives a child the belief that the world is theirs to conquer.

Age, growth, and maturity were what made me realize the limitations of my own knowledge. Growing up, I was a voracious reader. The saying, that if you want to hide something from someone, keep it in a book; it didn’t apply to me. On the contrary, that was the easiest way to expose your secrets to me.

My realization that people majorly didn’t like reading gave me more confidence that I had an advantage over most people.
A lot of that “braggadociosness” has been culled by the understanding that “this life no balance”. Still, we move.

I don’t know in which world a father advises his eleven years old son to go get a wife. Shouldn’t he be telling him to first go get a life? Or maybe, just maybe, go and play? At best, go read some books?

Still, I have come to understand the value of marrying right. I don’t think there is a more important decision we get to make in this life, than who to marry. Coming a close second is when to marry.

If you marry the right person, but at a time you are unprepared for it, you might end up damaging the union, yourself, and your spouse.

Financial prowess is an important consideration before marriage, in my opinion though, emotional maturity, willingness to compromise repeatedly, and ability to see the point the other person is trying to make, even when you disagree is just as important. If not slightly more.

I don’t know if an eleven years old is ready for all that. Lukas’s dad, a.k.a Baba Luku, should know better.

On second thought though, they say hindsight is 20/20. Maybe Lukas’s dad looking back with the benefit of hindsight has realized that getting married at an earlier age would have been more beneficial to him. And anyone else.

Anyone who saw the original ending to How I Met Your Mother will understand Ted Mosby having this perspective, and giving either of his kids this advice. Baba Luku might be up to something.

If we are blessed not to lose our memories, memories are often the most prized possessions of the aged. Lessons learned, losses made, profits garnered, time spent with loved ones. And friends, the family we get to choose.
May we be blessed with great moments that will create beautiful memories we will reminisce on with fondness in our old age.

Don’t think those moments will just happen to you. Now you still have the strength to, create time to sit back and relax with friends.
Not every time hustle. Sometimes, take out of the small (or big) money you have made and enjoy a couple of hours (or days) with those you love.
Show up for life events. Graduations, weddings, naming ceremonies, birthdays, and any other excuse to reunite (ane turn up). If you are one of those entitled to paid annual leave, try to sync up your work-leave with that of some friends.

Where that is not feasible, dedicate a couple of days during your leave to visiting friends. Not every time self or professional development. Sometimes kick off your shoes, grab the gamepad, turn up the music, eat some Jollof, forget you are a professional for once.
It doesn’t hurt to just relax and be taken care of. And if you don’t take the first step in taking care of yourself, who will?

Dedicating another one day of your leave to hosting your close friends is also a great idea. You can cook, you can order in, y’all can eat out. The most important thing is you get to spend time together and put aside life’s burden for a few hours.
These memories you are sure to treasure when the time comes.
Wahala for who no get friends ooo.

Seven Years Lyrics

Once I was seven years old my momma told me
Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely
Once I was seven years old.

It was a big-big world, but we thought we were bigger
Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker
By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor
Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure,

Once I was eleven years old my daddy told me
Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely
Once I was eleven years old.

I always had that dream like my daddy before me
So I started writing songs, I started writing stories
Something about that glory just always seemed to bore me
‘Cause only those I really love will ever really know me,

Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
Before the morning sun, when life was lonely
Once I was twenty years old.

I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure
‘Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major
I got my boys with me at least those in favour
And if we don’t meet before I leave, I hope I’ll see you later,

Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
I was writing ’bout everything, I saw before me
Once I was twenty years old.

Soon we’ll be thirty years old, our songs have been sold
We’ve travelled around the world and we’re still roaming
Soon we’ll be thirty years old.

I’m still learning about life
My woman brought children for me
So I can sing them all my songs
And I can tell them stories
Most of my boys are with me
Some are still out seeking glory
And some I had to leave behind
My brother I’m still sorry,

Soon I’ll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one
Remember life and then your life becomes a better one
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
I hope my children come and visit, once or twice a month,

Soon I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me
Soon I’ll be sixty years old.

Soon I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me
Soon I’ll be sixty years old.

Once I was seven years old, my momma told me
Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely
Once I was seven years old.

Once I was seven years old.