If Asked Where Are You From? What Would You Say…
Tags: Life, Heritage, Love, Experience, Family

Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash

We all don’t choose the families we are born into. The joys and celebrations shared and also the pains along being in one. The question of our heritage, background, our beliefs, and character. We meet people daily at various events across different times in our lives and the one question that always comes forth after many discussions are “Where are you from?”

For many, it would be their state of Origin, like “I’m from Lagos or I’m from Bristol” and it ends there and nothing else comes to mind which actually is only part of your story. For every family, there are rules, traditions, unspoken traditions, and culture bore by everyone within the name heritage. It is said Family always has your back but are there limits or the extent this code works for? When it is said “history must not repeat itself” with the family as it is relative, while this is good for some and for others it spells tragedy. Unsaid questions and unspoken answers about your family no one dares talks about, but it stares at us daily of what it has made one become. But when History does repeat itself, it leaves bodies in its trail.

Family comes with its baggage and not everyone reaches their predestined destination, but most rest or stall on route to it. Comfort, the enemy of progress never seizes to come around when an opportunity is close. Our expectations are fueled by Hope even when realize something is missing in our lives. Our personal dreams and the family’s dreams are intertwined and even though yours might seem right in front of you but the road from here to there will be rocky and there is no way around it but through.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Our memories of the times spent with family might not be pleasant, but it has its moments! Times spent at the dinner table; dad telling stories of his exploration in countries yet to be seen or holidays where external families come visiting and our favorite aunties or uncles place money in our hands or pockets within range of sight of our parents especially mothers. Also, the bad times, the fights, the traumas, the insecurities of what’s next in life, all remind us that these events makeup and can only be experienced as a family. Never hold who your parents are against the choices made in their lives as we are not in their shoes at that time or era. Your parents’ limitations should not be an excuse to disrespect their achievements.

Let not the bad done, be the visual reminder of who I am, but of my lapse in judgment even for a moment because I am only but human. Charity begins at home, Family is home. Most times we can only give to the world what we have been given at home. The most expensive currency is paying attention which sounds so irrelevant, but its impact affects the universe. So, pay attention to your family today. For many may scorn our beliefs but let us hold faith in not only God but in ourselves and our character. Our ability to rise, to always get back up will always be tested. Let that faith never be broken.

Whether you like it or not, you’re made up of all the elements, pain, joy, regret, and great strides of everyone considered to be Family. Take time to reflect, recount the bad, ugly, and amazing times with your family. So, if anyone asks yet again, “where are you from?”

Be damn bold and proudly tell it as it should be.

Just trying to make sense of it all.

Karios