The Joy of Shared Traits
There’s something magical about seeing families together. It’s such an underrated feeling, the way similar people with similar traits create a sense of connection. The same noses, the same eyes, the same cheeks or eyebrows.
Even the way they walk or the shape of their fingers, it’s like nature is showing off, saying, “Look how clever I am.”
I’m an obsessive pattern-seeker. I have to find connections everywhere. I’m very good at remembering people, their faces, their nuances, their quirky stories. It’s like I have a mini profile page for everyone I’ve ever met, and with little effort, I can pull it up anytime I want.
Every time I see a family together, I get this fuzzy feeling. I rejoice in this small wonder that nature has created. The beautiful sharing of DNA, the way traits are passed down, it’s a quiet miracle.
The Burden of Resemblance
But not everyone finds joy in resemblance.
Some people don’t like looking at their own face because it reminds them of someone who hurt them in the past. Imagine your face being your own burden.
You might think you’re not aesthetically pleasing, but the truth is simpler: you haven’t healed yet. You haven’t been able to move on.
Resemblance can be a double-edged sword. It connects us to those we love, but it can also bind us to those who’ve caused us pain.
The same hands that bring comfort in one person can bring heartache in another.
It’s a strange, heavy thing, to carry someone else’s traits when they’ve left scars on your heart.
The Ephemerality of Time
The ephemerality of time is real. Time is too short to not be spent with your loved ones, yet sometimes it feels unbearably long when you haven’t been able to reconcile with them. Or maybe life’s winds have carried you far from home, leaving you longing for the connections you once had.
And then, one day, you see someone, your cousin, your sibling, your uncle, or your aunt. There they are, with the same body language, the same voice, the same wrinkles that you saw on your mother’s face. The same laughter, the same hands. For a moment, you’re back with the person you’ve lost. Your cold heart warms up again.
You don’t feel so lost, even if it’s just for a little while.
Maybe you keep coming back to these moments because that’s all that’s left.
God is kind. He takes a lot, but sometimes He leaves a lot to carry on too.
Finding Comfort in Patterns
In the end, resemblance is both a gift and a challenge. It connects us to our roots, to the people who came before us and the ones who will come after. It’s a reminder that we’re never truly alone, even when we feel lost.
But it’s also a call to heal, to untangle the emotions tied to our reflections and find peace with who we are.
So, the next time you see a family together, take a moment to appreciate the wonder of resemblance. Notice the shared traits, the mirrored gestures, the quiet connections.
And if you catch your own reflection in the mirror, remember:
you’re not just a ripple in someone else’s story,
you’re the center of your own.