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</p><p>Have you ever noticed how people say, “You become the people around you”? But who decided that? Why is it always us adjusting? Maybe, just maybe, they could try keeping up with our vibes for once. (And no, the world wouldn’t end.)</p><p>Think about it. You start hanging out with a new group of friends, and suddenly you’re using their weird slang, laughing at inside jokes you don’t even understand, and — if you’re not careful — developing an accidental obsession with something like spaghetti with okra soup or an intense debate over which jollof is superior — Nigerian or Ghanaian.
</p><p>Let’s flip the script for a second. Why does it always feel like a one-way street? Why are we the ones doing the adapting? What if, just once, we could get a group of die-hard tea drinkers to accept that Milo is a national treasure? Or convince a room full of party jollof lovers that white rice with stew is just as elite?
</p><p>Sure, blending in has its perks. You get to learn new things, broaden your horizons, and — if you play your cards right — steal a few life hacks along the way. (Like realizing that meal prepping does save money, even if you still end up buying snacks you swore you didn’t need.) But let’s be real: sometimes it feels like we’re losing our essence, adjusting to fit into molds that weren’t designed with us in mind.
</p><p>The Moral of the Story (Sort Of)
</p><p>At the end of the day, personal growth is about balance. It’s about knowing how to vibe at an Owambe without forgetting how to dance like nobody’s watching. You can pick up new tricks from the people around you — just make sure they’re worth adopting.
</p><p>So, next time someone says, “You become the people around you,” just nod, smile, and say, “Yeah, but lucky for them, I’m the one raising the bar.” Then dramatically walk away, preferably while dropping an imaginary microphone and flipping an imaginary hair.
</p><p>Stay awesome, stay weird, and if you must adapt, do it on your terms.</p><p>
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When in Rome… (But What If You’re More of a Lag...
By
Ofonime Koko