Some of us, maturity hit us early in life, thanks to our parent's upbringing. I was taught to be contented with what I have, no matter how little it was, and I knew what I faced anytime I wanted to go outside the box of contentment. I have several stories surrounding me not being freaked by what others do just because we are peers or colleagues. In this writeup I will be sharing with you one or two of my experiences that shaped my life into becoming a better person and wouldn't give me the chance of going with the crowd that is doing what others are doing even if I wanted to. The reason why many are lost in their world today by following the crowd is because they don't have anyone to call them to order when they are on the wrong track, while those that have someone are being adamant to corrections.
The reason why I will never do or say things because others were doing or saying it was because when I was a teenager, mobile phones were well integrated then, and parents were buying them for their kids due to the advancement in technology. My parents refuse to buy for me, despite being in SS2. I talked to them about it, and they declined, and since I knew the kind of parents I have, knowing they won't go back on their words, I began to keep money either from my feeding or the ones I'm being given, and luckily, life is a lot easier then. I asked around for a used phone I could get for #4000, and I began to save towards it just because I wanted to be active on a social media we call 2go, just like my mates.
I bought the phone when my money was complete, and I started using the phone. Whenever I was coming back from school, I did switch it off and keep it in the inner part of my bag. I kept doing that until the day I was sent on an errand after school, and my younger brother searched my school bag without my permission and then saw the phone. He took it to my dad, and immediately I returned home. I sensed that the atmosphere changed; I knew there was some sort of trouble, but I didn't know who was in trouble until I was called and asked to explain how I came about the phone. I was fidgeting, and I knew if I told the truth, that would be more disastrous; I told them a friend kept it with me. My parents said all sorts of things, like What if the friend had stolen it and needed an accomplice? That's how I would have brought home stolen property.
I couldn't explain further, and I was beaten black and blue with punishment added to it. In my life, I can never forget that experience. Then I learnt that because others were doing it, it doesn't give me the right to do it too. I had to give out the phone to someone since I couldn't use it again. All I wanted then was to be socially active like my peers because I did feel a bit inferior when they were talking about how they were chatting on 2go and I had no phone, not to talk of contributing, but then I learnt a lesson through that process which I was grateful for.
I'm someone that doesn't get enticed by what others wear, eat, or do. In fact, I prefer to do my things differently than doing what is common. Dressing is one of the things that you can never see me do because others are doing it. Immediately there is a new cloth in the market, you will see people rushing to buy it, and in a short while such cloth will become so common. I remembered during the era of the shirt "my money grows like grass". Almost everyone I know had that shirt, both male and female. As common as it was that year, I didn't buy it or wear it, not because I couldn't buy it; I just don't like getting involved in common things. Buying a cloth because others are buying it is the least you will see me do. There is a pair of leggings in vogue that almost every lady has; I don't know what's so special about this particular pair of leggings, but I can never buy it because it's not even as appealing to the eyes to me as it is to others. When it comes to clothing, I am a bit choosy, which works well with me, I must say, and that's why no one can pressure me into buying a cloth I don't want to buy.
Thanks for your time, and your comments will be appreciated.
