I Am, Because They Are
And perhaps, I’ll be, because they’ve been
In the past couple of months, I hit a new level of humility by observing the people around me more.
Depending on what the matter of focus is, I’m either the -pro version, or the -lite version of my dad. Sure, we do have differences, but the similarities are too much, you can’t ignore.
Sometimes when I have conversations with people, I see traits of my mum in me. I don’t know anyone who breaks down things like she does — she’s a very detailed storyteller. Till this day, I’m learning from her, and trying to apply her methods so I could be a better storyteller.
When people say I’m generous, I think to myself — “you’ve not met my siblings.” In short, you can’t come from my family and not be nice.
This article isn’t only about my family, it’s about my friends too. It’s about how these people have been influential in me becoming the person I am.
As humans, we’re a unique entity, yet the product of many entities. Genes, environment, and unchosen experiences are some of the things that shape us to become what we are.
Many of the factors that determine our success/happiness — intelligence, physical features, how people treat us, place of birth, etc — have nothing to do with our input. Life is a lottery, and you definitely need a bit of luck to win.
That’s why today, I want to celebrate my luck by declaring how grateful I am for the family I come from, and the friends I made.
While the characteristics we inherit (from family) may be great, they’re usually inadequate. That’s why it’s necessary for us to always do more to attain absolute success. Friends can either help us build on the natural thing in us; directly by putting us on, plugging us to resources, mentoring us, etc, or indirectly when we mirror their behaviours, or subconsciously learn from them.
I’m far from where I want to be, but I’m confident about reaching my destination, because of how I’m going about my journey. I have the talent I didn’t do anything to work for, and the love/support I sometimes feel I do not deserve. But more importantly, I have the push, and reasons to never stop believing.
I’m so blessed that when I look at the aspect of life that are most important — family, career, spirituality, balling, etc — there’s at least a couple people close to me doing great at each of those aspects.
When people who love you and people close to you are doing great things, it’s a good thing. It makes you feel like your time will come too, but apart from that, it gives you access to a great network, and valuable information.
I’m able to remain firm in this turbulent life because of my family, most of the paid jobs I’ve gotten have been through my friends, and many times, my genius-solution to problems is “if X was in this situation, what would X do?”
I’m blessed, and I can’t even hide it.
I’m so grateful that I have all the motivation I need around me. I do not think that legit money is hard to make cos I have close friends making a lot of it. I do not think marriage is a scam, because I have friends that are getting the marriage thing right. I believe that no problem is too big to knock you out forever, because people very close to me have bounced back from what ordinarily should have finished them.
I could go on, bruh.
It’s one thing to get inspired by stories of people you don’t know. But to get inspired by friends and family is a special level of fortunate.
I’m grateful to God, ‘cos after His grace, everything I’ve ever been is as a result of the people He’s blessed me with. For my parents, siblings, and these beautiful friends I have, I feel really blessed.
I know that I am, because they are. And perhaps, I’ll be, because they’ve been.
From the last time I published a newsletter and now, I’ve written a few poems. Access via https://www.instagram.com/thekkawesome/
I also published I Want You For The Negative Reasons Too on Medium. Check it out.
So beautiful, I had to come and read again for the third time.