The first-ever time I took other's money when I was 6. We were visiting my mom's friend, so we were guests. There were a few coins on the shelf in the hallway, just to buy one ice cream and gum. I looked around - no one was looking at me, so I put them in my pocket.
Yeah, of course my parents repeatedly said that I shouldn't take someone else's property because it's bad. But what was wrong with it - I really didn't understand.
“All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.” ― Sophocles, Antigone
Small crime always leads to a big crime.
A couple of years ago I realized where to that path was leading. Committing a small crime, even "harmless" (for example - to threw a candy wrapper near the urn, or just do not trying to threw it into) - you get this breaking-the-law-taste. Then after a while you'll commi more serious crime.
So more and more moften, I started to catch the thoughts about the next bad thing. And at one moment, I found myself stealing the soup bags in the supermarket, and thus I got used to look into shop windows in search of the next object of theft.
“Some people steal to stay alive, and some steal to feel alive. Simple as that.” ― V.E. Schwab, A Darker Shade of Magic
Certainly it wasn't a matter of survival, it was just that nerves-and-ego-game. And also, the indulgence of animal instincts - to take what "was putted wrong" in my opinion.
Repetition builds character.
You get the taste of committing small violations, and thus appears the need to commit a greater crime.
Nowadays, I always guided by a traffic light when I'm crossing the road. Even when there's no one there. I understand that if I violate the rule, I'll start to plan more criminal actions in the future.
“To have once been a criminal is no disgrace. To remain a criminal is the disgrace” ― Malcolm X
I finally stopped to steal 6 years ago when I met my future husband, and I was ashamed. I didn't want his girlfriend had such blemish. He deserves the best.
With love,
NatiChi.
["Angel" painting © Natalia Chishchina (NatiChi) | 2016 | for this Steemit post]
Other Yes-or-No posts:
- Do you know what you want? □ Yes □ No
- Are you ready to remove the mask? □ Yes □ No
- Do I have to? □ Yes □ No
- Do you consider yourself beautiful? □ Yes □ No