The Sexiest Thing on Earth

This quote has really inspired me. I have seen and known many people. But it is really rare to see someone who is smart, thoughtful and generous in my life. I only know a few people who are like that. 

I know, you probably want to know why I am suddenly interested in talking about this. I am interested to talk about it because I want to share what I experienced yesterday evening. I want to share how rude or impolite some people are. The reason I want to share is so I can remind myself, my friends and my children (one day if I get married and get kids InshAllah) that being thoughtful, generous and polite are VERY IMPORTANT.

Yesterday evening, I went to see my aunt who lives in this town. I went there with my uncle who just came from the village where I grew up, Pasokan. There were two guests at my aunt’s house, a man and a woman. I think they work for the government because they wore a civil servant uniform. They were talking to my aunt’s daughter in front of the house. My uncle and I had never seen them before. My uncle and I were talking in the living room when the man got inside of the house and he walked through us to go to the kitchen. We were having serious conversation when he passed by. We got surprise. It was not because of him or because of his uniform, but because his etiquette. He walked through us without saying “excuse me” or even smiling at us.  My uncle and I looked at each other and I knew the way my uncle look at me. He wanted to say “ what an ARROGANT man!” by giving me that look.

As you probably know, I grew up in a small village where my family taught us (my brother, sister and I) to behave. I still remember few things which are taught by my mom;

She told us that it is not polite to talk while other people are talking. She wanted to teach us to be a good listener.

She told us that whenever you passed by people, you have to say excuse me or even bow your body, especially when we passed by people who are older than us.

She used to say “ ask permission before you take or use things which are not belong to you."

She also said that if we want people to do something for us, we have to ask them with a manner and use word “PLEASE”.

When I was a little girl, people at my village used to give me something and when I wanted to take it, my mom always said “do not forget to say THANK YOU”

I did not realize about all these until I went  to high school. The place where I first started to observe people and the first time I got annoyed to see people who did not have manners. My mom had learnt many lessons from her life and those were the reasons why she wanted us to do everything she asked for.

I know, you will probably say “oh everyone knows that” or “ oh Nur is making this up” But really, these days, no body pays attention which such things. People do not even use please when they ask someone to do something.

As I grow up, I realized,  sometimes, there are things which do not matter to us but it means SOMETHING for other people. We just need to be more sensitive.

I know that we cannot expect other people to behave or to be polite, but I was raised in a place where I was taught about manners. Sometimes it is difficult for me to tolerate people who do  not have good attitude or behavior. But I learn to tolerate it. I tried to understand what the man did. He walked like that because he has lived in a big town like Gorontalo and usually people who live in big cities tend to ignore about manners, etiquette or politeness. May be the man did not get enough education of manner or etiquette when he was kid. Or may be he just does not care about it. But for a person who grew up in small village like me, it is the MOST important thing in my life.

In my future, if I have kids, I really want them to learn those rules in their life. I want to teach them about it. I want them to be thoughtful, polite and kind. I want them to have it all because I believe that the SEXIEST things on earth is when someone cares about others, kind to everyone, generous and being thoughtful. I want to rise my kids like the way how my mom raised me, my brother and my sister.

I just hope that there will be more people who care about these things in the future. I think we will live peacefully and the world will become the better place to live when we care about other people instead of spreading virus like hatred and jealousy.

One-day, I hope we will smile when we see each of us helping other people who need us :)

Anyway, I gotta go,  I have to accompany my mom to go to Pasar. She is here, spending time with me :) 

Au Revoir . . 

From Gorontalo with Love, 

Nur