Certainly, I know that I am not perfect,

And that is perfectly alright.

Neither are you, or you and you!

Human flaws are characteristics we all share in common.

Some flaws are deeply entrenched,

Like the mandatory make up stripes on a zebra,

While some flaws are momentarily switched on,

As changeable as a flash bulb.

Some give it a posh title – eccentric, uniqueness, schizophrenic, deficient, myopic …and so on,

Or the simpler names – faults, shortcomings, intolerance, and so on. …

I call it exposing your humanity,

You being who you are.

In each of us, exists a beauty and a beast,

Like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,

It all depends on which side of your humanity you choose to expose.

In each of us exists a redeeming quality,

As minutiae as it may be.

Consider the good qualities of a man,

Weighed against his faulty sides,

And judge his character based on that which outweighs the other.

Let us bear with each other,

For the fault lies in our differences,

And none of us is above such criticism.

Don’t spend too much time dwelling on those flaws,

Life is too short to waste on things that cannot change,

But by all means, change the flashbulbs as often as you can,

For better illumination on the path of your journey,

Your final destination will be worth the effort.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha