THE ANTELOPE DOES NOT WEAR THE SHOE OF THE ELEPHANT IBIYEMI VICTOR INTRODUCTION Many want to be what

others are, many want to be like others, and many don t just understand why they are not Andrew or Paul or even Jesus. This likeness to be what others are born as a result of the discovery of some sterling characters that apparently blossom in the others they try to emulate. Many think they can act as a copycat to arrive at the height of excellence the others have arrived. It is not only good things or characters that are copied, others emulate bad examples that they feel will take them to their own judgments of greatness. Some even believe that they are being themselves even in the process of emulating others; it is not a bad thing after all to do what he is doing they will say. This act of emulation or copy as it is often called has two sides just as most phenomena in this world can be categorized in two folds just as good or as bad. The wearing of another s shoes can hence be negative or positive depending on the nature of the process. After all, no man is an island; he is a social being, hence through interaction we learn from each other and inculcate ideas, beliefs and characters form the outside world. But there is a negative sense in which individuals emulate others out of envy and jealousy. Hence, it is a test of proof that I can do better than you. Therefore, it develops into unhealthy relationships and hatred of some kind and the goal of emulating good virtues may even be lost in the process of copy and paste. The worst phenomenon that may erupt form this is the lost of identity which is fast becoming the ideal in the modern society. Individuals cannot maintain their different identities; they are joggled personalities and stuck in the middle too. This is the provocation that is expressed in the aphorism that the antelope does not wear the shoe of the elephant. THE ANTELOPE AND THE ELEPHANT: ALLEGORIES The clich that the antelope cannot wear the shoes of an elephant is an adage that is coloured with metaphoric interpretation like other maxims of our
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cultures.It is therefore apt to clarify the imageries of this axiom in other to better understand the evocation of the clich itself. The Antelope to Africa is a horned mammal, a cud chewing animal with smooth brown or gray coat, two-toed hooves native to Africa and Southwest Asia. The elephant on the other sphere is a large animal with long trunks, a very large gray or grayish brown mammal, prominent ears, thick legs and pointed tusks, also native to Africa and South Asia. This description of the two mammals immediately points out that the two mammals though common to same geographical locales are quite different in the anatomical appearances they wear. More importantly to this anatomical dichotomy is the display of the primordial outlook of their feet. That of the elephant is large and big, while walking the weight of its legs is felt by the acres of land that they land. The ground trembles with thunderous sounds of rescue,unlike the antelope that its legs are similar to two toes. When the antelope walks, the surface of the earth feels no sound and it is barely noticed that the antelope has passed. Creating shoes for this two mammals therefore would not be a doubtful engagement since the sizes are quite opposite of each other respective of the animal that is involved. This sets the understanding of this article in focus. CUTTING YOUR COAT ACCORDING TO YOUR SIZE The major problem is that many have not understood that one s coat should be cut according to one s size not even according to the material. Your coat will only fit you when it is cut according to your size. If the material is so much and on sows an oversize it would not be wearable and if the material is not enough and you cut it so short, then it is not wearable it is even better not to sow at all then. One way of wisdom that should be learnt by all is to recognize your size and then cut your size in that light. Most times, people go about looking for so much or so little. At the end of the tunnel nothing is achieved but sheer bitterness and pains. The attitude of a reflective determination of what is needed is the lack and the quandary of many in the hunt for blessings. The mobbish tendency of an undetermined way of life and a focus in life is the bane of underdevelopment and confusion in many individuals. The consideration of the focus in life is altogether
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the sharpener of an individual s behaviours which is his reflection of reality and response to it.Self-definition is the theme of that endeavour to understand perfectly what is good or bad for me. Without a correct self-definition, all the processes towards greatness would be leaps in darkness characterized with blind steps and colouredwith failures and sham successes if any is made at all. THE YOU IN YOU Understating the uniqueness in an individual is the bedrock of human excellence. Every human being is endowed with some potions of uniqueness that distinctively marks an individual with a special character of humanity. When individuals understand the magnitude of initiative in them, it is irreducible that it is a fountain that cannot be discovered just in a moment. There is therefore a precious vessel and well welled in every individual that should be the fuel of joy and happiness to carry on in the vicissitudes of life. That gift which has been reposed in humanity is essentially coping with reality. Facing reality is discovering your potential and harnessing the resources presented by the environment to make the better humanity in man. Again the sheer doubt of identity is the commencement of failure and shambles. This applies to nations and Africa is suffering the same fate of identity loss through the European rape aided by colonization and other forms of colonialism. CONCLUSION: THE MARCH AGAINST HEALTHY COMPETITION When the fullness of humanity is attained in the discovery of who I am there would be no crises of competitions and unhealthy hatred amongst individuals. It is a match against hatred and unhealthy emulations and competition. When we discover who we are then there is no point of being like another especially if it is inculcating what is foreign to your nature which would only breed neurosis and headaches. LEARN TO LIVE YOURSELF NOT ANOTHER PERSON IN YOUR SKIN