Anytime my mum wanted to correct me, she would bring up the other Ify.

“Are you not seeing your fellow Ify? See how obedient she is. See how she helps her mother and runs errands without complaining. You people are the same age. Try and learn from her. Stop stressing me, Ify is not stressing her mother like this.”

Meanwhile, in that same house, her mother was using me as the example.

She would tell her daughter, “Look at your fellow Ify. See how hardworking and responsible she is. She helps her mum and keeps things in order even when her mum is not around. But you, it's only stress you are bringing. Learn from Ify. She is your age and doing better than you.”

When I was thinking about this recently, I just had to laugh.

So I was the “good example” in one house and the “problem child” in another house at the same time.

This life no really balance.

Now, that experience has taught me something important. We often compare ourselves with others without knowing the full picture. The same person you are looking at as better than you might be looking at you and wishing they had what you have.

That is why it is important to appreciate your own journey. Appreciate what you have and stop the unhealthy comparisons. 

Keep improving yourself. Learn from people around you. But do not let comparison take away your ability to see your progress.

What you are taking for granted right now might be someone else’s prayer point. The level you feel is not enough might be exactly where someone is hoping to reach.

So move at your own pace. Grow, learn, and stay focused on your path.

Appreciate where you are. Appreciate how far you have come. Appreciate yourself. Appreciate what you've gotten.

In the end, everyone is figuring life out in their own way, and with time, we will all be alright ✌️✌️