Hello everyone!
How are you all?
Here's my entry for this blogpost.
Our values are life shapers. Everyone has one or two that they live by. Though values around the world are constantly changing, yet if you get your values ingrained in your being, then you'll be unshaken in your resolve
Below are 5 values which I have a firm grip on and have been able to live by over the years.
•Gratitude
This is an important value which most of the time people miss. As a growing child, my parents made sure to provide my every need and for every time I said "thank you", I saw how brightened their faces got. I'll sometimes murmur about what benefit those two words got them. Now, I can afford a few of my wants, I realise it's a lot to me. Nothing is too small. It's the same way people wake up in the morning and give thanks to their God. Because, it's no small gift. So, when people go out of their way to do things for me irrespective of how minute it is, I show appreciation cause it may actually have cost them a lot.
•Contentment
I don't know when I learned this. I watched my parents make do with whatever they had at hand every single time. In these times, every one should possess this virtue because you can't have everything you want sometimes.
There's always going to be someone richer, smarter, taller, curvier, more beautiful, just name it. I understand that my position in life is what some persons wish for. What I cannot afford, I do not kill myself over.
•Perseverance:
So may of us aren't in positions we want. For some of us, the future is bleak but why give up?
Everyone has their fair share of issues, but I do not give up because I have my whole life ahead of me.
While I stay content, I do not just relax in that position I find myself. I work hard for a change. I tell myself "why stay content when there is an abundance" by that saying, I mean that even if I am happy about how far I have gotten, I do not settle in that position or give up working for better. The life I crave won't come knocking on my door. But even as I work hard and continue to push through the storm, I do not know back cause I know that 'that too shall pass'.
•Kindness
The world needs more acts of kindness. First, we need to be kind to ourselves inorder to radiate it outwardly. It doesn't stop at giving to charity and offering thanks. I compliment people, smile at someone, give gifts, offer words of advice/encouragement and try to check on people. I know tht if we all try to be kind to one person, he/she will show kindness to the next person they come in contact with and the world would be full of so much love.
I remember returning from school one day in high school and a young boy tapped me from behind. When I turned he said I should please help him with a hundred naira, that he had lost his mother's change and she was going to punish him. I saw how scared he was plus he was already tearing up. I could have dismissed him but, it could have been me or any of my loved one. Thankfully, I always had cash with me so I gave it to him. You needed to have seen how happy he was.
Fast forward to two months ago, I was heading somewhere. On the opposite side of the road, a group of 3 boys were walking together. I noticed a particular one amongst them was smiling at me, and then he waved. I smiled back even tho I couldn't place the face. When I eventually remembered who he was, we had gone too far apart. It was the young school boy from earlier. I was surprised he still remembered me. I was even more glad he remembered me for the little act of kindness I showed and I know he'll go ahead to do even better for others cause One true act of kindness sparks another. So, if you ever find yourself in a position to be nice to someone, please do. Don't forget that you'll be remembered more by your kindness than your success.
Please, be kind.
•Honesty
I do not like to lie to myself. I like to be my truest authentic self. Saying things as they be. If cannot be something or do something because it is inconvenient for me, I say so. I make no mistake so I do not lose myself and become undisciplined.
There, you have my top 5 values.
I try not to displace any of them cause if I do, I may most likely not find them easily again rather, I strive to uphold them and also imbibe others values which I do not strongly possess.
Thank you for reading.
Good-day!