Whose Shoes Are These?
Walking in the Shadows of Giants
When you're a child and someone asks you, "What do you want to be when you grow
up?" the answer often comes quickly and sincerely:
"I want to be like my daddy," or
"I want to be like my mummy."
There’s something beautifully innocent about it, the desire to emulate those
who hold our world together.
Fast forward to the teenage years, and the
answers begin to change. Now the names shift to famous personalities
"I want to be like Virat Kohli,"
"I want to be like Donald Trump,"
"I want to be like Narendra Modi,"
or even "R. Kelly."
These are people whose lives and achievements
light up newspapers, social media feeds, and the imaginations of millions.
They’re successful. They’re visible. They’re idolized.
But is that enough reason to spend our lives
trying to become a mirror image of someone else?
The Adult Illusion: Success by Imitation
It doesn't stop with the young. Ask most
adults, and you’ll often hear them say they aspire to be like Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, Bill Gates, or Elon Musk. Businessmen want to build like Jeff Bezos.
Creatives want to write like Chimamanda Adichie or sing like Adele.
Having role models is not wrong; in fact, it
can be incredibly powerful and inspiring. But here's the twist: we often spend
so much time admiring others that we forget to discover who we are.
The Great Identity Mix-Up
We live in a world bursting at the seams with
over eight billion people. If you’re not sure, ask the Chinese. Every one of us
has a story, a beginning, a cultural thread that shapes our perspective.
Some were born with silver spoons, others with
none at all. Some fight through adversity, others glide through privileges. But
here’s a truth we often overlook:
Trying
to fit into someone else’s shoes often means leaving your behind.
And in doing that, we end up walking a journey
we were never meant to take, trying on paths that were never ours to follow.
The Futility of Chasing the Wind
We tell ourselves, “If I act like them, work like them, talk like them, maybe I’ll
end up like them.”
But the truth is, even if you wear their shoes, you may never fit in them. Not
because you're not good enough, but because they weren’t designed for your feet.
You’ll come up short, frustrated, worn out by
the chase, chasing shadows, chasing wind.
Success isn't about cloning someone else’s
life. It's not about copying footsteps but creating your own.
It’s 2% talent and 98% hard work.
Yes, you may have the gift, but what are you doing with it?
You Were Born to Be You
This isn’t about discouraging ambition. It’s
not bad to be inspired by others. But your main purpose on this earth wasn’t to
be someone else. You didn’t just fall
here from space; you were placed here deliberately,
divinely, purposefully.
You’ve been given a blank book. Your life is
the pen.
You’re the author of your story.
So the question is: Whose story are you writing? Yours, or someone else’s?
A Thought From My Heart
If I could offer one piece of wisdom, it would
be this:
Live in a way that when someone picks up your life book, they’ll read about who you are, not just who you admired.
Yes, it’s okay to try on different shoes. It’s
how we explore, grow, and evolve. But don’t forget to return to your own. Even
if you don’t make it big by the world’s standards, take comfort in the idea
that your shoes, your journey, were worth stepping into.
Because while you're busy trying on everyone
else's shoes, the world is left wondering...
Awaken Your Inner Peace – Download Your Spiritual Journey eBook Now and Transform Your Life with Every Page.”
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Whose
shoes are these?
Final Reflection: Your Shoes Matter
In a world obsessed with fame, filters, and
followers, choosing to be your authentic self is an act of courage. So wear
your shoes. Break them in. Let them carry you to places only you can go.
And maybe, just maybe, someone will walk by,
see your shoes, and say:
"If I could be like anyone, I’d want to
be like that."
📚 Want to explore more? Choose your path below:
