Keeping the You alive.

                

            Flowers, green grasses, and small clusters everywhere. It's an animal kingdom. A goat meets a fish, and they become friends. They come together, and discover their variances, as regards their way of living, habitat and all. Then one day, the goat begins to tell the fish, that if they must remain friends, the fish has to leave its own habitat, and come stay with the goat on land. What  do you think would happen if the fish, which is cut out to live in water, decides to please her friend the goat, and come to stay on land? Your guess is as good as mine. 

              In the above illustration, the goat, and the fish were the focus....In today's illustration, you are our focus. 

                 Your life is made up of dreams, values, beliefs, aspirations. Though some of yours could look like that of someone else, the combination of them all is unique to you only. 

               Just like that fish, we all get to meet some points of decision everyday of our lives. On the other hand, even without pressure, some persons just try to imitate the beliefs, character, virtues and lifestyles of other persons hook, line and sinker, and for the wrong reasons. 

            Here are a few examples of how this comes about:

•              You just come across a new friend, Vicky, and you guys become close. Like have a hearty conversation, and all. Someday, she asks about your opinion on something and you spill your choice. Now she asks why you would go for that. She tells you her own choice, and tells you to adopt it, as yours. With no reasons, just a "do-as-I-say" affair. 

          And you do so, because at that stage of the friendship, you're willing to do anything to keep the friendship going. 

•               It could even be in a quest for acceptance, recognition, or a sense of belonging, amongst a group. And for these reasons and people, you slim fit some of your virtues, just so you can fit in. Most times, you console yourself with the fact that it won't hurt, since it's only a few of these virtues, that you're letting go. 
•              Other times, it could be for fear of criticism.

            Whichever instance it is, You gradually submerge yourself into someone else, relegate your beliefs, virtues, to the background, and accept that of someone else. With time, You reduce the size of your dream, and start getting shy of your aspirations. 

                 Okay, here is something I've been meaning to tell you:

               If this is the way you've been living too, very soon, there would be a very little trace of that real you. Instead, You would just be a medium conveying the dreams, beliefs, values, and aspirations, of someone else. You would not be able to hold on to a belief, and say, this is the experience I have, that made me hold so dearly to it. 

Let's look at this:

1. I love honesty, because I've reaped its rewards many times. 

2. I love honesty, because Favour says it's the way to go.  

             Now, between the first and second person, who do you think it would be easier to talk out of the honesty thing? 

             It simply takes another person whom the second person respects, to disapprove of honesty, and the second person would shift from his position of loving honesty. 

              Let's move to the table of the persons who keep dropping one good value of theirs for every new person they meet, or clique they want to belong to, how many more persons, before you realize you have no reasonable values of yours left? 

             How many more people do you want to meet, and change your beliefs, before you realise that you really don't even know what you're advocating for? 

              Would you keep slim fitting your dreams , till it  becomes as tiny as when you can't remember it anymore?.

               Sure, you are allowed to borrow ideas from persons as well, but with your own convictions. Be able to defend those anywhere you find yourself. Go ahead, you're free to like the way that thing sounds, but do your research as well, and know why you should hold on to it. 

               Just the way someone once said: "Don't settle for anyone less. Don't let them bargain with you, in a bid to have you lower your standards. If they can't afford to pay the price, then they're not the ones."  

              As much as you appreciate other persons different views and opinions, never forget that you have the right to believe what you want to. 

           Also, you have a lot of admirers known and unknown out there, who admire you because of those values you hold on to. 

             So friend, What is that dream or aspiration you have? 

               What are those beliefs and values you hold on to for the right reasons? 

Never replace them with someone else's own for the wrong reasons.. 

Don't submerge them into oblivion due to pressure. 

You're worth more. 

You're unique. 

You have super capabilities. 

Don't settle for less. 

Keep the you alive. 

Never apologize for who you are. It lets the whole world down.                                          ~Jen Sincero 

               Many thanks for coming through today. I hope you've been having a great time. Don't forget to remain optimistic, and close to your creator. Stay safe, stay blessed. Your favourite writer, Joy.