CAUTION: Put off Pretty Miss! It is just a trap. Focus on the word PECULIAR!
I have created so many indelible moments facilitating the Summer Kids' Club. The children are fun, smart and of course children. To encourage teamwork, stir up healthy competition and create an easy learning environment, the system of grouping them was initiated. Of all the tasks the children get to work on, Creative Art excites them more. It gives an opportunity to "play as you create". It is super fun, I am an undercover fan of it. Biko, who doesn't like to play? (On a serious note, I hope the children don't read this).
I remember one hot afternoon, I bet the heat of the sun on that day could boil a bucket of water. Maybe, that was the reason behind my cluelessness on the day's agenda. However, I did something by not doing anything. I gave the children an opportunity to create anything with objects found at home. It was less stressful for me or so I thought, until Pretty Miss Peculiar approached me. She said "Auntie Victoria, you have to change our task". "Ah ah! madam, why should I change it?" I asked her. She continued; "Is it not the other group, they stole our idea".
Just like the scary tale Francis told me the other day; "you look left, right and left again to cross the road, no car, no motorcycles nor bicycle, even barrow or tricycle is not on sight. Just after crossing safely, an airplane crashes on you".
I was wrong to think that I have escaped stress. This was extra-stress! Immediately, I called for a general meeting. There was no proof on who stole whose idea, of course the other group claimed it's theirs. I knew I needed Solomon's kind of wisdom. So, I asked; "Do we have just Nokia phones?" No!! They chorused. Yeah, I know right. There's Samsung, Infinix, Tecno, Sony and many more. But they are all phones, a means of communication. I am talking about the same idea but different products. PECULIARITY!
Permit me to pause our conflict resolution. Just be rest assured that we had a happy ending.
As I am writing this, someone might have written it while another will be thinking of writing it and probably in the next ten years, another will get the inspiration to write on the same topic. At the end of the day, the writing style differs. That's the wonder of our Creator. I believe in standing out. The touch of "me" makes the difference but that could only happen when "Self Discovery" has taken place or still in progress.
I can't help but ponder on Edwin Elliot words; "By being yourself, you put something beautiful into the world that was not there before". All in all, being Yourself is better than being the best of someone else. Being innovative is undeniably great, however, never be discouraged when you share the same passion with someone else. You are your secret ingredient, offer that uniqueness to the world. The world needs your positive vibes!