Childhood can be fun, and it can also look simple, but on the other side, it can teach us a lot, Childhood is mostly the time that our parents teach us morals and we take heed to them, because you know, we were still kids. I have learned a lot in my childhood, some I might not remember now.
Habit is a continuous routine or behavior that has been built in someone. As much as they are habits or lessons I have learned, there are some that I was never really faithful to, and some I was.
When I was a kid, my parents built us with a lot of things, a lot of morals, in fact, I do feel like 70% of every African (Nigeria to be precise) parent would teach their children some morals, and these morals have helped in many areas, these morals have slowly turned to habits.
There are quite a lot of habits that have influenced me in my youth age, but the one I can think of is …not taking food from stranger, If I was to take it, I must not eat and not beg for other people’s food. Although they taught me to be appreciative My parents trained me never to eat what they have not given me or what my siblings have not given to me neither am I allowed to beg from people, if I do otherwise I would dearly face the consequences.
Although my parents inbuilt in me the knowledge that not everybody gives you food or anything out of good mind, my mommy had told me stories about how children would fall sick or die when they take stuff from strangers and they are them (strangers to my mom was anything other than my nuclear family), but when I grew up, I realized that is not only because it is a dangerous place outside but it also gives one a good-esteem and it leads to contentment and self-control.
This made me remember when I went to my aunt's place with my sister, and we went to church, I was a child so I was taken to a separate building for service, my sister was not with me, and I can’t remember where she was taken to. Anyway, as a first timer, I was welcomed with some gifts, I can never forget they gave me some biscuits and a drink (Ribena), silly me, ate the refreshments without showing my Aunty.
After the service was over, I went to meet my aunty, My sister still had her refreshments with her, and my aunt immediately asked me where my refreshment was, I told her I had eaten it, I said since it was from the church, I had nothing to worry about that was why I ate it. Oh my God, the way she shouted at me, ehn. I was so terrified because she was a strict woman. When we got home, the punishment and beating I received that day I can never forget it.
Ever since then, I have cultivated the habit of not eating anything given to me outside, and this habit followed me throughout my entire life. Now, that I am a little bit older, I can now decide whether to eat what was given to me or not, and most times I am usually careful. Regardless, I am not always enticed by food and anything quite related to it. Even now that I am quite old, I do bring whatever is given to me (especially packaged ones) home.
At times, when I see how some people behave at the sight of food, it makes me want to puke and some even go to the extent of begging up and down, How irritating. I have gotten used to this habit that no matter how hungry I am, I naturally would never do such.
This habit has earned me respect in some cases, it has increased my self-esteem, and it has helped me in terms of contentment not just for food but in everything. I don’t think I can ever break from it.
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Thumbnail designed using canva, Gifs are sponsored by tenor, the image is mine.
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𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈...