“I have never seen any two birds have an accident in the sky! There’s room enough for you and me!” – Nkiru Olumide Ojo, and I couldn’t agree more with Nkiru. I find her quote rather refreshing during these times, which inspired my article for The Garden this week.
I have always said that it is okay to have more than one star in the sky. It is allowed! The presence of another star does not diminish the spark of the other star and it certainly will not depreciate its value. Having another star or more alongside each other does not mean disposing or replacing either of them. In fact, this could be one of the most beautiful things to behold- a constellation of stars.
According to authorised dictionaries, a constellation of stars is an easily recognised group of stars that appear to be located close together in the sky and form a picture if lines connecting them are imagined. Behind every constellation is a story and they help break up the sky into more manageable bits. Henry Wadsworth describes this effect as “Silently one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely stars the forget-me-nots of the angels”.
Beloved, what am I saying here? The presence of another star should not pose a threat to you. Often times we witness a rather toxic behaviour whereby people want to be the only star in the sky. They are ready to fight and frustrate any other star in order to “preserve” their position and somehow they do not believe in their ability to shine even in the midst of other stars.
What if I put it to you that it is so unnecessary to create conflict only because you want to shine. You can still shine beautifully even amongst other stars and should you honestly feel threatened by the presence of another star, look deeper and ask yourself if truly you are even a star to begin with. Because real stars are not insecure in their make up. They recognise that they were born stars, they were created to shine and wherever they find themselves they have no other mandate or purpose other than to shine. So, next time you find yourself in the company of stars, think of it this way – you are all a constellation of stars beautifully paired, one by one in the infinite meadows of heaven.
Those who study the stars will tell you that even the most famous of constellations: Aquarius; Aquilla; Aries; Leo; Orion; Cunis Major; Scorpio; etc – Even after all these decades, still hold a unique spot and function in the galaxy. Therefore, nothing and no one will steal your shine.
By Lerato Charlotte Letsoso/GhOne TV | Email: leratokayise@gmail.com