Diversifying Life's Baskets

I learned to be cautious and careful when carrying crates of eggs at a very young age. As kids, my mother would send my brother and me to run errands in the neighbourhood for basic things that we often needed in the house. We had to be careful when carrying the eggs back home, not just because they are delicate and fragile, but because we always thought we'd have a date with Mr. Goody Goody if we let the basket of eggs fall.

Mr. Goody Goody was a literally heartless and lifeless being in the form of a cane. It's an African thing. Although my mother has always been merciful and loving, she was also strict and very much a disciplinarian. A date with Mr. Goody Goody was not always the option, though, especially with eggs, but there's a reality about having all eggs in one basket.

When I was trying to gain admission into the university to study, I had just one course I was interested in, as well as only one school that I wanted to attend. So when I was filling out a form for the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations that year—one of those things we do to gain admissions into universities—the first choice was the only one I had in mind. The second, third, and fourth were random things I put in. A teacher, who was a Corper at that time, said these words to me: "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket."

She meant to tell me about the risks of having only one plan and was hinting to me that I should think of alternatives I can fall back on if Plan A ever fails. I didn't do that, however. I wasn't exactly in the position to help myself much with admissions and seeking alternatives. I was being helped, and I hoped that Plan A would work. Thankfully, it worked, and with many years down the line, I am not a graduate with the degree I wanted.

The statement she gave me went on to be something I would hear over and over again with time, and I understood the concept of it and its relevance in our daily lives and activities. The need for diversification has become a necessity to consider in these times. It's a mentality that's crucial to ensuring success in certain circumstances.

Side-hustling is a normal way of life amongst youth these days. As a matter of fact, if you do not have a side hustle, you either have something that is highly sustainable for you or you are just not involved enough to support yourself.

The same concept of diversification is applicable, very useful, and crucial in finances. Surely you cannot bank on just one project, especially in crypto. Anything can happen, and preparedness through diversification is indeed key. And, also, it applies to many other aspects of our lives in more ways than one.

Grocery-shopping one day in the market, a spontaneous photograph of these eggs seemed like an idea that wasn't so bad, and so I took it. Reflecting on it today and inspired by the prompt for the day, the concept of diversification was my angle when the quote "put your eggs in one basket" came to mind.

_{The image(s) in this post belongs to me}