Elderly grandmother tells of changes

By Aruna Lolani 31 May 2017, 12:00AM

Changes are part of life.

Segia Maugaali’i of Faleula says she has seen plenty of them.

“As life goes on, I realize, everything changes,” she tells the Village Voice. 

“People change, things change, life changes. But change is good.” 

“It makes everyone stronger.”

Of all the changes though, the 80-year-old grandmother says she has learnt that life is too short to waste.

“Back in the days, we live knowing life is too short to roam around and do nothing.” 

“We only depended on the land and the sea to get us food and money. There were not many jobs so we were our own boss and we tried to make life with the little we have. We were also grateful.” 

The changes became challenges.

 “As we faced the obstacles, we learn how to cope with them. We learnt how to win, how to never give up, how to accept what we cannot change and still find peace, how to live in grace during times of hardship.” 

“We learn all of these and so many more things every time we hit a little hardship in life.” 

 “As you can see, nowadays most people only dream of getting office jobs,” she said. 

“Some deny the good money from the sea and land because they don’t want their hands and legs dirty. Everyone nowadays wants to live a palagi life.” 

“Others move overseas with palagi wives and husbands because they don’t want to end up doing the saka.”   

For Segia, she believes life in Samoa is the best.

“We struggle but this is home,” she said.

 “Life is too short to be unhappy. You have to take the good with the bad, smile when you’re sad, love what you’ve got, and always remember what you had.”

“Take chances while you still can, give everything, and have no regrets.” 

 “Sometimes, there are things in our life that aren’t meant to stay.” 

“Sometimes, change is too much to bear, but most of the time, change is the only thing saving your life.” 

“If we all play our part to provide and make end meets there’s nothing else to worry about.” 

“Sometimes, change may not be what we want, but it’s what we need; because change defines the person we are yesterday, today and tomorrow.” 

By Aruna Lolani 31 May 2017, 12:00AM

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