Jack and John were two identical twins who shared a deep love for sports.
From a young age,
They found joy in running,
Playing football,
And challenging each other in various athletic pursuits.
And with two parents who also loved to exercise,
Sport was a very natural and normal form of enjoyment growing up in their household.
Over time,
Both twins nurtured a dream to represent their country in the Olympics.
They envisioned themselves as the first identical twins to compete in the same race,
Doubling their chances of success.
As they matured,
Their skills improved,
And their school encouraged them to join a running club.
With unwavering passion and belief in their abilities,
They knew they were destined to become exceptional athletes.
However,
As time passed,
Their contrasting personalities became more and more apparent.
Jack became more confident,
Excelling academically,
And craving the spotlight.
He approached every race with the expectation of victory,
Having already achieved considerable success.
John,
On the other hand,
Felt more at ease in Jack's shadow.
He was naturally more introverted,
Less inclined toward seeking attention,
And preferred to let his brother bask in the glory.
Nevertheless,
John thrived in sports due to his dedication,
Hard work,
As he reaped the rewards from his efforts.
Despite their similarities in appearance,
They were,
In fact,
Quite distinct.
Like two sides of a coin,
They complemented each other.
Almost one whole person went together.
Yet they possessed their own unique traits and strengths.
Jack's extroverted nature and self-assuredness contrasted with John's introversion and humility.
As the years went by,
Jack and John became local celebrities in their college and village,
Known for their exceptional athletic prowess.
Jack boasted about every sporting success,
Whilst John shied away from attention and avoided unnecessary interactions.
Finally,
The long-awaited letter arrived,
One that offered both twins a chance to trial for their country.
It was a dream come true,
Their aspirations turning into a reality.
Filled with confidence,
Jack proclaimed his inevitable presence in the next Olympics,
Already envisioning success.
Meanwhile,
John,
Less self-assured,
Resolved to prepare diligently and give it his all.
He embarked on a rigorous journey of self-improvement,
Adhering to a healthy diet,
Following a structured exercise programme,
Working closely with a trainer,
Practising against opponents,
And nurturing his body.
In contrast,
Jack didn't feel the need for such thorough preparation.
Having won every race throughout his life,
He couldn't conceive of failure.
His unwavering self-belief and mental strength were his training tools.
Each night he engaged in meditation to maintain focus,
Visualising himself succeeding at the trials,
Ensuring his visualisations were as vivid as possible by absorbing the sights,
Sounds and sensations of success.
Some people questioned Jack's approach,
Wondering why he didn't train harder,
Like John.
Others questioned John's lack of confidence,
Asking him,
Why don't you emulate your brother's positivity?
Both twins would simply reply,
Because I'm me.
On the day of the trials,
Both boys felt ready.
John felt ready,
Having diligently adhered to his training programme.
He had a healthy body.
Physically,
He felt at his best.
Jack,
Driven by the belief that failure was never an option,
Carried immeasurable confidence.
His inner dialogue consisted of constant self-encouragement and positivity.
Mentally,
He was primed for success.
Not surprisingly,
Both boys succeeded,
One through disciplined preparation,
Training and practice,
And the other through an unyielding certainty that failure was inconceivable.
It's natural to compare ourselves to others,
Even to identical twins growing up in the same household,
Receiving the same education,
Pursuing the same passions.
Despite these similarities,
We all possess unique experiences,
Ideas,
Beliefs and personalities.
And it's these differences that make us extraordinary.
Remember to embrace your individuality.
Recognise that success can be achieved through many paths and to use your differences in ways that work best for you.
Celebrate your own unique strengths and nurture your own journey,
For it's through the embracing of differences that greatness is attained.
