Teens Meet Outreach

I’ve met people who talk about respect according to their own understanding, I’ve also seen people react in one way or the other because someone does not respect them. Our society has taught us so much about respect: in speech, in greeting, in serving food and so on.

In the western region in Nigeria, respect is seen in their greeting, they believe that when a man prostrates and a woman kneels down, then they have shown respect. Mind you, respect cannot be judged using that criterion. Respect should be seen in other areas too.

R-respect is reciprocal
E-respect people’s emotion
S-respect people’s suggestion
P-respect people’s privacy
E-respect people’s energy
C-respect people’s culture
T-respect people’s time

Now let me expatiate on this:

Emotion

It’s good we respect people’s emotions, and this comes by knowing the kind of words we will speak to them and even how we express ourselves when trying to correct so that we will not hurt their feelings.

Energy

Respecting people’s energy is also important, don’t take others for granted when they help you, don’t turn it into an abuse, thereby making them feel rendering their help for you is a waste of time and energy because you won’t appreciate it. People’s privacy is important to them too, so when they decide to discuss their personal issue with you, please respect that, by keeping the secret safe.

Suggestion

In a gathering when there is need to suggest something and people contribute to it, please don’t try to make some feel good and some feel bad by telling them that their suggestion is not feasible. Appreciate them for at least making an effort to even suggest something.

Culture

Let’s embrace each others’ culture too, we have different cultures. For example, the Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas all have their culture which includes the way they speak, the way they dress, and their food too. If we have a friend from a different culture, whenever they talk about their culture, we should respect it by appreciating it and doing that will help you know about another person’s culture totally different from yours. When we do that it shows respect and love, it brings joy to their heart and also fosters unity.

Time

Lastly, respect people’s time. I have a friend that whenever we discuss to an extent and he feels he has taken too much of my time, he will just say “Dammy, I respect your time, please let call it a day, I know you will have some things to do”. When he talks like that, I really appreciate it, it shows he really values my time.

Respect brings love.

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How else do you think we can respect others? Feel free to share in the comments.