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On Comparison: What Reliance isn't seeing.

 So what is it?
RELIANCE: I've not been feeling so fine lately. My health has been deteriorating without mercy. Of recent, I've had to visit the hospital twice for tests, to reassure myself that I'm not actually a sickler.
VALERIE: Okayyyy...your OCD won this time around.
RELIANCE: Stop it. You would have done the same if you were in my shoes.
VALERIE: Oya now, no vex ma.
RELIANCE: See ehn, that is not even my issue. So many things have been on my mind lately.
VALERIE: (Sitting up) Hmmmm...Do you mind sharing?
RELIANCE: Not really. Errhm...do you remember Ola? The girl we used to call smallie dah year?
VALERIE: (Thinking aloud) Smallie...Ola...who...wait, wait, the one from our secondary school?
RELIANCE: Ehen!( claps her hand)...I saw her.
VALERIE: (Brightens up her eyes, and begins to smile) Oh my God..where? How was she looking? Where does she live?
RELIANCE: Calm down madam...abi, I should leave you to do the talking?
VALERIE: Sorry oo..Oya, I'm all ears ma.
RELIANCE: Better. So, I was just coming out of the banking hall on Thursday morning, when I saw this car entering into the bank compound. I don't know if you would understand me oo, but there are some vehicles, that from the time you see them, till they leave your sight, you just can't ignore. Especially if you have this thing for cars like me.
VALERIE: I fully understand. I've seen you lost while staring many a times.
RELIANCE: (Smiling) That's how I saw this vehicle that almost made me miss my steps ooh. Mehn...it was just so adorable and powerful-looking. I don't know why I didn't get the name( hits her forehead). Then when this vehicle came quite close to me, it just stopped. I couldn't really see who was inside, because the glasses were slightly tinted,  so I made to start going. Then the door opened, and guess who came out?
VALERIE: Who were we talking about?...Olami?
RELIANCE: Haeeeewwwww.. Valerie, you need to see the glow. The babe was sparkling all over( smiling and demonstrating). I was just too dumbfounded and lost. Like  the Olami I know???. She was the one who even pulled me into a bear hug, and kept screaming my name.

VALERIE: ( Makes a baby face) Awwwnn....so sweet.
RELIANCE: Azinnn..the girl has even added in height, and weight seff. We chatted for a while, exchanged contacts, and then parted ways.
VALERIE: Beautiful reunion, chei!(raises her eyebrows) But, wait. Is this what has been on your mind ever since?
RELIANCE: You will not be calming down now.. Valerie, what position did Olami used to be in class that year?
VALERIE: Bottom five. Everyone knows.
RELIANCE: Thank you. What about me?
VALERIE: We were all following you humbly at the back now..
RELIANCE: See? That's my painnnn ( hits her forehead). The moment Olami stepped out of that vehicle, even though I was smiling and happy with her, the truth is, I was completely lost in thoughts. I was full of questions. God knows I left there in tears that day. Tears of Joy for her, and tears of sorrow for myself.
VALERIE: Okay wait, you have to go easy on yourself..
RELIANCE: (Cuts in sharply) That's not all oo... that's not all. See( she reaches for her handbag, and brings out an envelope)... it's my younger sister's wedding invite I came here to give to  you. Like this girl would be wedding in a month's time. And me?? No potential suitor to even use and have hope. Or is it the health issue I was telling you about? Just compare it to you. Like, I'm not sure you've even had any reason to visit a pharmacy in this month, not to talk of a hospital. But if I tell you how much I move in and out of the hospital, without any reasonable answer to show for it. See ehn, the thing is, generally, I just feel like life has been really unfair to me.

VALERIE: Wow. This is a mouthful. Breathe now girl.... I've heard all you said. But, here's the deal.
             Most times, we just have to learn to be grateful, because life is not the way we see it. Think of it like, we all are carrying our personal life details in an opaque bottle. Apart from the side one may decide to show you, or the clue you may get through close observation, the rest are unknown to us. Are you aware that this Olami of a girl was diagnosed sometime in secondary school of a terminal disease? Or have you forgotten she didn't finish with us? I used to be close to her, so I learnt about this sometime later. Her parents had to take her out of the country for treatment when the whole issue started, and the disease was managed to a manageable extent. And yes, she returned sometime ago, but believe you me, she has a very limited time to live.
RELIANCE: (With eyes wide open) Oh my God!.. Are you serious?
VALERIE: Yes I am, dear. Okay, think about your sister who is about to get married?. You should know better than me now, so do the maths. Has she always been as privileged as you are? Or have you forgotten that she couldn't go to school, while you rocked all levels of education with brimming favour? Then as for my health, let's just leave the talk for another day. But just bear in mind, that it's not everyone who looks fine facially, that is fine within.
               And errhm, hear me girl, this is not to rule out perfectionism. Some persons still get tons of blessings with no conditions attached. Some persons are just graced in all aspects. That is fine, but doesn't happen so often.
        Truth is, if we are in any way, given an opportunity  to witness the behind the scenes of life's drama, and then we are able to have a  glimpse and see the prices of some blessings in the life of people, we would be more grateful for our own lives. As someone somewhere keeps saying; life is balanced, it's just you who is not standing well. Maybe you might consider adjusting your standing position, so you be able to weigh without bias.
         Here's my 2 dollars for you, baby. If you're not analysing the life of someone for a project topic, or research, please leave it out of your mind. If you've always found pleasure in the comparison of your life, and that of someone else, please try out another hobby. There is so much we're not seeing. Plus, everyone is not entitled to a common time frame in life. We are all running in different lanes. Leave comparison out of your mind friend. You deserve your inner peace and more💜.








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Comments

  1. Unknown8 September 2020 at 16:14

    Beautiful!!! This hit me hard. Gratitude is a must. I'll shift comparison outta my life. Thank you for this wonderful story🌹

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown8 September 2020 at 19:58

    Hmm. Leave comparison out of your mind. "I" deserve "my" peace and joy.
    Great work girl. Your pen is golden.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown8 September 2020 at 21:19

    Need of the hour for me... I will try my best to do away with comparison...Thanks a bunch dearie... very nice and inspiring right up...You're going places... keep being you ☺️

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown12 September 2020 at 12:06

    Wow This is awesome. We need to be greatful to God at all times and we should learn not to compare our lives to others 😁😁. More grease to your elbow sis

    ReplyDelete

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