As the days pass by, the mornings bring me a step closer to my birthday or perhaps I should say brings us a step closer to our birthday since I'm a twin and all.
I remember while growing up, you know being a twin is a very "awwn" thing, we had to deal with a lot of gushes and cute response. It didn't help that my mum just loved to announce it to the world that we are twins. Not that I can blame her, mama's just been super proud to have twins especially as none of our relatives from either mom or Dad's side have any twin in the family. Atleast none that I know of.
Another thing we had to deal with was wearing matching clothes. Thinking about this has me laughing. Lawd! You don't wanna know the great lengths my mum went to just so we could have the exact same things. It got so bad that one day we made a pact to deliberately and intentionally wear different clothes and want separate things. It was like our individuality was going to be buried under the mask of being a twin and we had just had our fill.
We continued this way and went on to separate colleges. It still amazes people when we tell them we went to separate universities. It's as though we broke the twin code or something. Lol.
Being away at separate colleges I would confess, was not easy at all. Our schedules were almost never on par except during Christmas and summer breaks. It was as though there was never enough time to be with each other and goodbyes were honestly emotionally wrenching for me. I guess it's true what people say, we really are bonded on a deeper level. Hehe.
Given the turn of events this year, the pandemic putting the world on lockdown and in Nigeria, the ASUU strike, we have had 8 months of uninterrupted time together. In fact, weirdly enough, during this period I've been able to further strengthen the bonds of key friendship in my life, physically! Something that has seemed impossible for years.
I love being with my twin, having her share in my simple daily pleasures, basking in the aura of each others victories and being a balm to each others pain. I remember all the times my mum would take us shopping and would be gushing so much about how a dress looked so nice when in my heart I definitely did not feel the same. I'll take just one look at my twin and she would just get it, no explanations needed. With us, we never really need words. Just a look or a touch is often enough to get the message across. We are each others reins, each others accountability system, each others strength and weakness. The relationship I must say is a deep one, hehe.
I'm writing this exposè into our lives because I realize how blessed I am. I am blessed because in my twin sister I have found a support system so uniquely tailored to me that sometimes I don't need words to communicate. Of course, she isn't the only support system I've got but she's a unique one all for me.
Life is so amazing, chaotically so. We're often pulled on so many fronts and on so many levels. This is why it's important to have support systems. People that you can lean on, people whose love and strength anchors you. Like the popular quote, "No man is an island". You were not made to do it all on your own. You're not Superman, Even Superman had help!
Remember Jesus, The son of God who was also a man. For all the Power he possesed still appointed 12 Apostles and He is basically God. Remember Moses who was leading a great flock of people? So one day his father-in-law steps out and sees this long cue of people waiting for him and he's wondering why do you have people surround you all day, morning to evening. To that Moses says I'm offering counsel. I love Jethro's response so I'm gonna quote it, "What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone."
You really can't carry all that weight alone, you can't do it all on your own.
You need to effectively create systems in people where no matter the big or small, no matter the pleasant or unpleasant, you know you've got people whose love anchors you and whose strength causes you to flourish. You are not alone and do not have to do it on your own
I hope today you take stock and appreciate the support systems in your life, I hope you let them know how much you value them and if you feel like you don't have any of such relationships in your life, how about you start from the amazing people around you?
Like Joshua to Moses, Simon Peter to Jesus, Jonathan to David, Mordecai to Esther, Ruth to Naomi, yours may be right around your corner, right beside you. Winks.
Today, I'm so grateful to all the support systems in my life. I hope it's the same feeling with you.
Remember,
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
PS: My Twin also edits every story I've put up. Aren't I just blessed?