The Art of Being Uniquely You

- Alero Okiy

I was at a speech contest over the weekend and I was greatly challenged. Not because I was a contestant in the competition but because I listened to a speech so good, it felt like the author wrote it for me. Deep thoughts inspire me much so when I see them in expression (like in this speech), it is very difficult for me to move on from them. So touching was the delivery that I reached out to her to allow me to feature the speech in my publication today; and she has graciously permitted me.

I have left the piece untouched so what you will read from this point are the thoughts of Toastmaster Alero Okiy…

Have you ever watched a sunset and thought, "that's nice, but yesterday's was better"? Of course not! Each sunset paints its own masterpiece across the sky, just as each of us crafts our own unique story in this world.

There's an ancient African proverb that says, "the lion's story will never be known if the hunter is the one to tell it." Your story, your talent, your journey – only you can truly tell it, only you can truly live it.

I’d like to share a story with you all. Two actors – Sarah and Michael were cast in the same play; and Sarah, blessed with a naturally powerful voice, landed the lead role. Michael, despite his smaller part, had this incredible ability to make the audience lean in, hanging on his every word.

Sarah spent weeks torturing herself, trying to make her character movements as fluid as Michael's. [On the other hand,] Michael stayed late after rehearsals, attempting to match Sarah's vocal range. Both were so busy looking over their shoulders that they nearly missed the magic they were naturally creating. The director finally sat them down and said something very profound:

"Your talent is like your fingerprint – comparing it to someone else's doesn't make yours any better or worse. It just distracts you from leaving your own mark."

That's what comparison does – it's the silent thief of joy. It sneaks in through the back door of our minds, whispering "not enough" when we're already more than sufficient. It's like trying to measure the value of an oak tree against a rose bush – both have their own beauty, their own purpose, their own time to shine.

Your talent might be the way you light up a room with your smile.

It might be your ability to find solutions where others see only problems.

It might be the gentle patience you show when others rush.

Or perhaps it's that unique combination of skills that only you possess.

Think about it – Mozart never tried to paint like Van Gogh.

Einstein never attempted to dance like Fred Astaire.

And Fred Astaire never tried solving the theory of relativity!

Each stayed true to their path, and that's precisely why we remember them today.

In nature, we see this truth everywhere. The eagle does not criticize itself for not swimming like a dolphin. The rose does not rush its blooming to keep up with the dandelion. Yet somehow, we humans have convinced ourselves that we need to be everything to everyone.

Let me ask you this: what if all the colors in a rainbow tried to be blue? What if every instrument in an orchestra tried to be a violin?

The very beauty of our world lies in its diversity, in the unique contributions each element brings to the whole.

So the next time you catch yourself playing the comparison game, remember: the only person you need to be better than is the person you were yesterday.

Your journey is your own.

Your talent is your signature.

And that, my friends, is something worth celebrating.

Every step you take on your own path, however uncertain it may feel, is worth more than a thousand steps on someone else's road.