The best at being not THE BEST

There are many things I'm good at that I've wanted to be THE BEST in— which never happened.

I was never the best football player but I loved playing football. I was never the best track athlete but I did well in tracks. I was never the best in dancing though I'm a great dancer. I was never the best at swimming though I love swimming. I was never the best in drumming whether Jimbeh or trap set though I love playing the drums. I was never the A student though I've gotten many A’s before. I was always terrible with politics and general knowledge even though I was low-key interested in it. I didn't graduate with Honours even though I studied all the time. There were many positions in school I could have gotten but didn't get. I really was never the best speaker, even though I love public speaking.

There are many things that have changed now, that I'm better at but still not THE best in. I went through life from single digit age until that moment in July, 2018, trying to find something I was THE best in. Always trying to do everything perfectly because I eventually wanted to be THE best. And there were many disappointments especially because I knew I tried very hard and thought because of that I needed to be awarded THE best in whatever it was. I always wondered why there were others who were able to master things, be the best at them and I couldn't. Many things were a competition for me. Understand that I do believe that competition is good- but my kind of competitiveness caused me to lose special moments of celebrations just because I didn't think I did well if I wasn't titled or seen as THE best. This was so serious that I was not even satisfied when I would share first place with someone else.

After climbing one of the highest mountains I've ever climbed, (The Harz Mountain, Germany) I came home and I meditated and I cried. I really cried, for hours.

THAT DAY I ACCEPTED THE LESSON THAT LIFE HAD BEEN TEACHING ME ALL ALONG.

I thought to myself, 'I'm doing so many things I've always wanted to do. These are some of the things I only dreamed of, and I didn't need to get all A’s or be the perfect speaker or be THE best in anything. I just needed to be me.'

God can take anyone and give them awesome experiences. He just needs you to work hard at being you. You do not need to be recognized by others for God to see you. It doesn't mean that we should never do our best; as a matter of fact, we must do our best but our best may not be seen as THE best to others and that's OK. Once we have done it to the best of our abilities, it's good enough and God sees our efforts.

Yes, it took me a long time to realize that and then some more time to believe it. God is the one who validates, so if no one else does, it is OK. Of course, it is easier said than believed, but stay grounded. Continue to do your utmost best. Feel proud of yourself and celebrate your victories. Make your own trophy if it makes you feel better. Remember at all times that God's validation is the one that counts.