To tell you the truth, I've lived in a toxic and unhealthy environment while growing up with my parents. That was years ago and I could still remember lots of messy things I experienced and how a lot of children got influenced negatively. I would say my parents' strict upbringing corrected many of our bad behaviours, which were influenced by young ones, especially the ones their parents didn't give a damn about their lifestyles.
Thankfully, years later, the landlord sent each tenant an eviction letter with the reason that he'd sold his house to a company, and soon, they would start work on it. We moved to another state, and it was still a bit better, and it wasn't as toxic as where we were coming from.
Neighbours would just wake up one morning and begin to fight and gossip about each other. There was always noise everywhere.
We shared toilets amongst ourselves; those living downstairs had their own messy bathroom and toilets - pit latrine, likewise people living upstairs. We stayed downstairs.
You'd be careful if you ever need to go to the toilet, anything from 5pm, because if not, the big rats and cockroaches that were so rude could step on your feet and catch you by surprise, and you might even slip through the big pit latrine.
Such an environment is one I would call an unhealthy one because everywhere was always chaotic and violent, plus seeing dirt and gutters smelling that we'd cover our noses when passing through some corners.
An example of a healthy environment is one I'm living in right now and there are a lot of factors that made me conclude that.
First thing, I hate noise. I have always wanted a peaceful environment to live in rather than living with thugs around me. In this current place I'm living, everyone minds their business. We only see ourselves when we come out, maybe for meetings or just to get something outside.
A healthy environment, to me, is one where we have responsible people occupying it, and no one has to disturb the next person. It's not only when an environment is neat would I call it a healthy one but with people knowing their responsibility to do the needful, and thanks to my place, there's a cleaner who comes every weekend to clean the surroundings.
Where I live is another perfect example of a healthy environment because no one has business causing violent scenes or shouting up and down except when they come together to have fun, and this only happens once in a while.
It's an environment where peace is the motto, together with unity. When it comes to sorting out things like buying fuel for the generator to pump the water, especially when there's not much sun to power the solar, we come together to contribute, and that's it. No disagreements and we stand on what we agreed on.
A healthy environment is where we all look out for each other and do not create any silly scenes. For instance, we don't open the storex tank until everyone is around and would fetch their water, and this is always at night when we'd believe those who'd gone to work would be back.
Everyone is cool-headed and minds their business when it's necessary. This is the kind of environment that makes sense and you will definitely enjoy your stay more. No toxicity and no coming out to settle misunderstandings. It's about maturity, too, you know!
An environment with friendly faces makes the whole place lively, and that's a healthy one with good relationships with each other.
Though, it's not only about a clean place, but we must not forget that even with all those attributes of a healthy environment, without a neat place, it's still unhealthy. Health is wealth, and it is when we live in a good area, safe from dirt that could cause diseases and then become an illness to our bodies, that we are free and enjoy a good and healthy environment.
All images are mine
