claricelecter@hotmail.com
When we are little, it seems that we are someone’s slave, be it the parents, the siblings or any adult who decides that he needs something from the store or that something needs to be brought to them. It turns out that the smallest are the «go fetch me…»people of the older ones, and of course, when we question them they answer us with «because I’m older than you» and the discussion is over, on the threat of death if you argue…
As we grow, it is up to us to decide which instructions to follow and which ones to ignore. There will always be guidelines and restrictions that we must abide by in order to be somewhere. There are definitely things that should be subject to debate and consideration, but there are things that don’t have to become World War III. Like the basic rules of education, the «excuse me», «please», «thank you», etc. We cannot go to a place and assume that everyone should bow down to our wants and needs, that is a stupid idea that many people believe that we should all follow because apparently, the sun rises only when they open their eyes.
Many times, it is our parents who teach us that we are the supreme leaders of the universe and, as they are crushed under the weight of the authority of their own children, so they grow up with the impression that the whole world owes them the same respect, but, big mistake! How painful it is to run into a world full of equal people who in turn are waiting for the others to kneel to them. Then the war of wills begins. And in war someone always has to lose.
It is when many of us find out about this series of regulations that we must follow and it is also the moment when our true self comes out. When they give us an order, we seem to feel an overwhelming need to show them who’s boss. Many of us have to do the opposite to show our superiority. It is as if death itself comes to threaten our existence if we do something just as we have been asked to do. It seems that if it is not done, we will melt like the witch from The Wizard of Oz. There is definitely a reputation to maintain, how are they going to bow to the pleas of a commoner?
What many people don’t seem to understand is that we are all the same. I don’t care if you come to me with «my family is» or «I know» or how much money you have in your bank account. A human being is a human being, period! We are all worth the same in that sense, what makes you believe that you deserve more, that they have instilled that idea in you? No. I’m sorry to tell you that, me being a mere mortal and you an untouchable royal, on a human level we are exactly the same. The environment in which you operate is the one that says you are worth more, but in reality, that is very relative. Someone can have all the money in the world and be a disgusting person. There are people who do not have a cent and yet they share how little they have to eat with you.
So what makes you believe that you are the person to decide what rules you should follow? When you eat at someone else’s home, it is a good habit to wash your plate, or to offer to lift it from the table, you are not in a restaurant. And even if you are, the person who lifts your plate does it because it is their job, not because it is a pleasure to serve you, especially if you are so rude that you treat people as if they were less.
The rules of basic education should not be lost. We can keep them alive, but we just don’t. Some because of laziness, others because since others don’t do it, it turns out that they are ashamed to do it because being noticed is something frowned upon by many people and others because they simply feel that they don’t deserve it. The reason doesn’t matter because the result is the same: the moment comes when the habit is to be sullen and cold with other people. Like when someone in the market is paying and does not even turn to see the person who adds up the bill because they are on the cell phone. I mean, it is not necessary to marry the person who is taking care of you, but a greeting and you pay attention in case they needs to ask you something would be nice. And then, to finish it off, they make a displeased face when they tell them the total purchase, how date they interrupt their conversation?
Okay, if you want to be unpleasant, go ahead, but don’t expect me to have a good attitude towards you if I don’t give the same treatment. You cannot receive what you don’t give. Mama Vacci has always told me that you have to be more educated than other people, personally, it is very difficult for me to give people a respect or courtesy that they don’t give. Anyway, it’s something I work on every day. It’s actually fun to see the surprised face of rude people when you treat them politely. Sometimes they don’t even know what to do. I think they are so used to receiving screams that they already know how to deal with it, but not with a few friendly words, that melts their schemes along with their faces.
And yes, you do what you want, you have the right to do so, like all of us, as long as you don’t interfere with other people. Paint your house with tar, bathe your feet in acid to kill athlete’s foot, wear the clothes you want, make your life a kite if you choose, but don’t mess with me, and do not disturb those around you. It’s one thing to do what you want and another is to be annoying others. We do not have to take your complaints or your delusions of greatness, thank you.
As a human being I make mistakes, they are what I work on every single day, the thing is not to act as if we were perfect, but to reflect and try to be better as people. This is how we are going to change the world, not mistreating others or showing our superiority in a pathetic tantrum in the middle of the street.
Let’s have a little sanity, shall we?…
And you brothers, sisters, what do you think? Share… if you dare…
Kind regards.
Mostro.