Esther Paul has an Esther Paul…

There are three women I greatly admire: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Huwa, and Esther Paul. For me, it’s how they stand out in what they do, how they carry themselves with grace, and how you can tell they’re intentional about growth. I love several fragments of them.

I am fortunate to have direct access to one of these great women, and that is Esther Paul.

So, somewhere last week, Esther Paul posted someone on her status and the caption was really heartfelt. It was about a certain woman who was a role model to her while she was growing up. And the key things she mentioned in describing that woman were the exact same things I would use to describe Esther Paul herself.

And that’s when it dawned on me.

That my Esther Paul has an “Esther Paul.”

In the sense that, the same way she has been an inspiration to me, she also has someone that is an inspiration to her. Someone she looks up to. Someone who helped shape her mindset and her values.

Isn’t that cliché? But it makes so much sense.

And it felt grand knowing that she didn’t just happen to be this exceptional. In some shape and form, she was once like me. Learning, watching, growing, looking for someone to guide her, even if indirectly.

You know that comfort in finding out you’re not the only one who has ever been confused, messy, or unsure?

That was exactly how I felt.

Something else that made that status pivotal is the fact that I have a tendency of idolizing the people I love. So seeing her admire someone else reminded me that she’s human too. 

I remember being down that day, and viewing that status genuinely lifted my spirit. It reminded me that growth is a process, and even the people we admire had their own “before.”

Dearest reader, we all have role models, and sometimes they can seem like superhuman. But honestly, they are human. Same as us.

Knowing this is realizing possibilities.

Yes, we have different lives. Yes, it’s going to be hard. But it’s possible. It’s attainable.

I’m learning that you don’t become great by magic… you become great by exposure, consistency, and choosing to become better every single day.

@favvy_Okwans🖤.