Of Siblings, Ugali and Love?

Confused? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I wasn’t really sure how I should title this post and you’ll understand why as you read on.

So this is me repeating a message that’s been said more than enough times. So much so that we take it for granted. Relationships are not about chemistry or feelings. They are not about two people who click perfectly and who are just right for each other. It’s not about him or her being the ‘One’. Sure these things exist but they are like appetizers in a 5-course meal; they only whet your appetite buy they don’t fully satisfy your hunger. I shall now conveniently insert a food pic right here.

This versus.......

These!!

 Back to the matter at hand. What I’m trying to say is that loving someone is a conscious decision. It’s a choice. It’s the main course at the dinner table! Ugali and Sukuma, Chapatti and Chicken, Spaghetti and meatballs; you get my drift? And you know, the funny thing is I learnt this lesson not from some guy who broke my heart, or a past failed teenage fling. I learnt this from my brother. Yep you heard my right: BROTHER!

   Let me explain. Sometimes having a brother or sister sucks! They know exactly which buttons to push and how hard to push them. Some of them are so weird you secretly wonder if they were adopted. Some of them have absolutely NOTHING in common with you. But that doesn’t mean that you divorce your family and move out. No. Sometimes, when you’re willing to be the bigger person in the siblingship you let them have that last piece of cake. You pretend not to notice that your sister has ‘borrowed’ your favourite sweater without asking yet again. You ignore the incredible urge to annoy your goody-two-shoes older sibling who happens to be on edge just coz they are having exams. You compromise and you settle and you decide against being selfish.

   And maybe it’s because blood really is thicker than water. Maybe it’s because we realize that we can’t just escape where we’ve come from. Maybe it’s because deep down we know and trust that these people would catch grenades for us in more ways than Bruno Mars could possibly explain in that song. I really don’t know. But what I do know. What I’d dare to propose is that maybe if we took our significant others as seriously as we took our siblings, there’s be a lot less complicated relationship stati on facebook. (Hmm...Stati...Is that even a word? I don’t think ‘statuses’ is quite  right)

   So to my siblings, I think you should know by now that...

I promise to celebrate World Siblings day with you next year. 10^th April. It’s a date! :D

Ciao!