I'm delighted to be me

The Sanderson family resided on a quiet street in a tiny town situated amid rolling hills. The light cast golden hues across their comfortable abode, where laughing reverberated through the windows. Although they were close-knit, the Sandersons recognized that each member was distinctive in their own way. Mrs. Sanderson, or Emily as her friends called her, made an effort to instill this in her children on a daily basis.

Emily had two children: Sam and Lily. Sam was a curious, energetic youngster who spent much of his days with LEGO bricks, creating enormous constructions and complicated worlds from his imagination. His mind was constantly in action, inventing and discovering. His younger sister, Lily, was the opposite: quiet, introspective, and intimately linked to nature. She enjoyed sitting beside the old oak tree in their yard, sketching animals and the changing seasons. Emily always celebrated their uniqueness, glad of the unique pathways they were making for themselves.

But one evening, as Emily was preparing dinner, she overheard her children talking.

"I wish I could do what Sam does," Lily murmured, looking at her brother, who was building a spaceship with colorful blocks. "He's always making things, and I don't know how to make anything like that."

Sam, who had overheard, hesitated inside his building. He looked at his sister and smiled. "You do not have to do what I do. You're fantastic at drawing. I could never do that! I would rather have your sketches than my spaceship any day."

Lily appeared apprehensive, but she appreciated her brother's remarks. She had always loved his creations, but in that moment, she recognized how their perspectives on the world differed.

Emily sensed a change in the air that night, following dinner. She could tell her children were deeply thinking. Emily decided to have a heart-to-heart as they sat around the kitchen table with a warm cup of cocoa.

"Do you both know what makes you so special?" She asked gently, her eyes filled with affection.

Sam and Lily exchanged looks, unsure where the talk was headed.

Emily added, "Each of you has a unique perspective on the world. Sam, your head is always full of thoughts. You can build whatever you set your mind to, and that is a great gift. Lily, your drawings capture beauty and tell stories. You perceive the world with a sensitivity and understanding that not everyone possesses. Your abilities are unique, but neither is superior to the other."

"But, Mom, sometimes I feel like I'm not as good as Sam," Lily said softly. "He's so good at making things, and I can't do that."

Emily smiled softly. "Lily, do you remember when we were at the park last month and you saw the bird with the vivid blue feathers? You drew it nicely, and I hung it on the refrigerator since it was so good. Sam couldn't do that, right?"

Sam laughs and shakes his head. "No way." "I'd probably get the bird completely wrong!"

"You see," Emily explained, "what works for one person may not work for another." However, this does not imply that one person is more special than another. We all have distinct strengths. Sam, you can create anything with LEGO bricks, and Lily, you can draw the universe like no one else."

"I guess so," Lily said slowly, touching the rim of her mug. "I never really thought about it like that."

Emily stretched out and placed her hand on each of their shoulders. "Comparing ourselves to others does not help us appreciate our own unique features. Instead of asking why someone else can do it better, we should celebrate what makes ourselves unique. It's alright to be different from one another. That's what defines *you*."

For a little moment, the youngsters sat in quiet reflection. Sam, who had always been the more outspoken person, eventually spoke up.

"I'm delighted to be me. And I'm delighted you're Lily.

Lily grinned, her eyes light up with sudden knowledge. "Thank you, Sam. And I'm delighted you're yourself."

That night, as Emily tucked them into bed, she felt a surge of appreciation rush over her. Her children had learnt an essential lesson—one she had fought so hard to instill in them: the value of celebrating individuality. Yes, they were unique, but that was part of the appeal. The world required Sam's innovation and Lily's quiet observations. They relied on one another's skills to enrich the world.

As the moonlight crept through the window, Emily whispered, "Never forget how special you are, just the way you are."

And with that, Sam and Lily drifted off to sleep, knowing they were perfect as they were.