So picture this, you are in a kombi and you see
an elderly woman walk up to you and she asks for your seat. What do you do, do
you refuse with your seat and insist that you paid for it, or do you
unwillingly give your seat to that senior citizen?
Well did you care to imagine that back in the
day such a scenario would seldom happen? This is because the moment grey haired
citizens boarded any bus, Kombi the young and the energetic would automatically
offer to give their seat to the elderly. There was no negotiation that would
happen and it was not necessary for the elderly to plead for seats with teenagers
as it is the norm to respect elders in our culture and as such they ought to be
treated courteously. Offering them a seat was just one of the ways to bequeath them
their due respect.
Somehow some of us have allowed our societal
values to be eroded and they have lost all the principles and values that we
held dear as a people. Some young people do not bother to know that they are in
the presence of elderly people and that they should treat them with respect and
honour.
Just take a moment to think of the number of times
you have been in a kombi and were embarrassed to look at your mother because
apparently obscene and explicit music was playing much to the disgust of the
elderly in the kombi? What even escalates this shame is the refusal to stop the
music and the protesting by the conductors and drivers when these grey haired
citizens complain.
Tadiwanashe Chigowe a student at Hillbright
College expressed his disapproval of this wayward behaviour. “I mean, we all
know that is the music we listen to but some songs are inappropriate to play
when our parents are there. They should just learn to censor their playlists,”
Tadiwanashe said.
While some people might believe that being
disrespectful and rebellious is an expression of swag I believe otherwise. I believe
that respect is an expression of swag.
Most of the well-mannered and respectful teens
are the ones who go on to build success stories in life. They are able to excel
in their life because they are willing to learn from those who have acquired
wisdom and experience.
You can never know a road unless you have
travelled it or unless you are told of it by the ones who have travelled it
before. The one who has walked the road before will tell you what to avoid and
what to expect along the path such that you travel that path faster than them
when they first walked the road. The same happens with life, our elders can
give us an insight of what life is about. They will tell us of roads to avoid
and rivers that are crocodile infested and our journey will be better than
theirs if we heed to their advice. Nothing can beat experience.
Respect also earns you favour. Someone higher
in authority will never be impressed by rebelliousness; rather they are
impressed by humility and a willingness to learn. A successful and noble
elderly citizen will only be delighted to mentor and promote a humble person
who also has respect for authority. Do not be an ‘I know it all’ person in
front of elderly people. Submit yourself under them and learn as much as you
can and when you have learnt enough your promotion is surely around the corner.
Lack of respect repels opportunities from you as no one wants to elevate or
promote a person without respect.
Mrs Yeukai Kaitano of Tynwald North who works
at a certain leading financial institution described why she would want to work
with young people who have respect. “Obviously anyone would want to work with a
person with respect because as youth it is a reflection of who you are and how
you have been raised. It also gives an insight of what your tomorrow holds,” advised
Mrs Kaitano.
When you can respect others you also have
respect for self. Self-respect means that you do not do anything that will
damage or do harm to you. You will never abuse drugs that ruin your life and
the chances of you succeeding when you live a clean life are higher than the
ones who use drugs. When you respect yourself you do not endanger your life.
So next time you are standing in a queue and
you see a senior citizen standing at the back of the queue or behind you,
nicely walk up to them and ask them to step up to the front of the queue.
By Glen Dhliwayo
+263773641749
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