There are a plethora of characters humans possess. Some of which overlap within people, races, ethnicities, and cultures. Others are inherited and some are unique.
It is very interesting to see how the traits in humans manifest and play a critical role in who and what they are/become. These traits are often the things we pick up while navigating life, and some of which are just innate. No matter how we try to mask it or put up a front, in the end, we go back home to ourselves. For instance, a person may want to act all bad and radical but if kindness and calm are innate in them, in their most vulnerable moments, true characters surface.
This brings me to a post I once read. It revealed that; everyone is born pure, undiluted, and just human. However, whatever we are exposed to via culture, environment, nurturing, etc defines the way we eventually turn out. It is most logical to conceive that as the truth because have you not looked around you?
With a fountain of traits and attributes available for everyone to draw from like water from a well, I believe that there are certain traits every human should possess. Three of these are;
KINDNESS
In a world where you can choose to be anything you want to be, please be kind. Be like a fairy that sprinkles her dust of kindness in the air. It doesn't take away from you. Instead, it elevates your spirits and nourishes your soul. Haven't you felt that surge of elation and thrill when you do something nice? That's it right there. It is soul food. I wish the world would just go back to when people were ready to do stuff for others without expecting anything in return, and without thinking about what they are going to gain from it. I wish people would just go back to believing in future gratification and the fact that whatever good deed comes back around. It would be pure bliss and I'm telling you the world would be a better place. Be kind in your ways and words. You never know whose pain you are soothing.
FORGIVENESS
This trait should not be as hard as it is to come by. In this age, now more than ever, I think forgiveness is a trait everyone should like like armor guarding their sanity and mental health. You find that a lot of grudges are being held, a lot of wounds are left unhealed, and lots of aching hearts and swallowed words. These are heavyweights that can kill a person slowly from the inside. I think no one deserves to carry such weight. Let it go and let your spirit soar. If life is so short, why do you want to spend it holding on to dark ashes that you could have blown away into thin air a long time ago? In a world full of broken people, become one of the healed ones.
LOVE (FOR SELF)
The importance of love for oneself cannot be over-emphasized. Love for self is like that soft landing one uses to cushion all that life throws at you. I think every individual should have that tub of self-love that they can immerse themselves in whenever. It could be that favorite sanctuary, an organized group of activities, self-care, and everything encompassing. Having the ability to love yourself thoroughly is a prerequisite for kindness and forgiveness. With love as the foundation, it is easy to give what you have to others. After all, whatever we give out comes from within, and if love isn't a part of it, it is all just ashes and a mirage.
This is my entry to Hive Naija weekly prompt; #22