Cuando la conciencia es el único testigo | When conscience is the only witness

Los valores y ética son fácilmente evidentes cuando actuamos a espaldas del resto, en esos momentos en los que no está presente la presión social, sino solo nuestra conciencia para decidir cómo actuar. De esto trata la iniciativa de nuestra amiga @maylink: “Cuando nadie te ve”, de esas acciones que tomamos cuando no estamos al ojo público, debo decir que mientras leía me llegaron varios recuerdos y eso me hizo ver que desde niña tengo valores bastante arraigados en mí, como la honestidad y la responsabilidad.

Esto es bastante vergonzoso de confesar, pero cuando era niña (tendría de 7 a 8 años) estaba rodeada de niños que eran una mala influencia, debido a que les gustaba mucho tomar lo que no era suyo. Recuerdo que me cuestioné varias veces si eso era correcto o no, entonces llegué a la conclusión de que si muchas personas lo hacían, no debía ser tan malo si no me atrapaban, así que lo hice.

Aún recuerdo la horrible sensación en mi cuerpo y la gran carga de conciencia. No me preocupaba si me atrapaban, sino el hecho de haber tomado algo que no era mío. No había pasado ni media hora desde que había tomado ese dulce (era un turrón de maní pequeño), cuando lo devolví. Después de eso ni siquiera pensé en volverlo a hacer, incluso se convirtió en uno de los traumas de mi vida. Nunca le dije a nadie sobre ese acontecimiento, sin embargo, lloré debajo de una mata de níspero porque me sentía mal por mis acciones.

Relacionado con eso, hace unos años fuimos de vacaciones a la casa de un familiar y un día que yo estaba limpiando, me encontré un pantalón que tenía bastante dinero, creo que eran unos 200 o 300 dólares. Medio lo conté, porque cuando levanté el pantalón del suelo, se cayeron todos los billetes y tuve que recogerlos. Después de que terminé de limpiar, fui a buscar al dueño del pantalón y le devolví el dinero. Él y su mujer se sorprendieron mucho (de verdad, mucho), eso me incomodó tanto que me quedé hasta que terminó de contar el dinero. Luego me agradeció varias veces durante todo el día e incluso quiso darme algo de dinero como recompensa, el cual rechacé. Yo ni siquiera pensé en tomarlo aunque lo necesitara, por eso me sentí tan incómoda al ver su reacción.

En el liceo o secundaria tuve muchas oportunidades de tomar alcohol y otras sustancias que no voy a nombrar, pero nunca quise hacerlo, no porque mis padres me lo impidieran o porque sea algo incorrecto para un menor, simplemente no me nacía hacerlo. Recuerdo que un día después de salir de educación física, nos sentamos a hablar en las gradas y alguien sacó una botella de anís, todos comenzaron a beber y yo simplemente seguí hablando con ellos, ya que no me molesta que beban. Al rato una de mis compañeras quiso obligarme a tomar y yo lo rechacé, eso hizo que todo el grupo comenzara a insistir y burlarse de mí, yo simplemente los rechacé y me fui. Al otro día se disculparon y no volvieron a insistir.

No soy la mejor persona del mundo, tengo muchos defectos, pero mientras pueda seguiré mis principios. No voy a decir que nunca lo haré porque solo Dios sabe lo que ocurrirá en el futuro, sin embargo, seré fiel mientras pueda. Hasta la próxima.

Values and ethics are easily evident when we act behind others' backs, in those moments when social pressure is not present, but only our conscience to decide how to act. This is what our friend @maylink's initiative is about: “When no one sees you”, about those actions we perform when we are not in the public eye, I must say that while I was reading several memories came to me and that made me see that since I was little I have values quite ingrained in me, such as honesty and responsibility.

This is quite embarrassing to confess, but when I was a child (I would have been 7 to 8 years old) I was surrounded by children who were a bad influence, because they liked to take what was not theirs. I remember questioning several times whether that was right or not, then I came to the conclusion that if a lot of people did it, it must not be so bad if they didn't catch me, so I did it.

I still remember the horrible feeling in my body and the great burden of conscience. I wasn't worried about getting caught, but the fact that I had taken something that wasn't mine. Not even half an hour had passed since I had taken that candy (it was a small peanut brittle), when I put it back. After that I never even thought about doing it again, it even became one of the traumas of my life. I never told anyone about that event, however, I cried under a loquat bush because I felt bad about my actions.

Related to that, a few years ago we went on vacation to a relative's house and one day when I was cleaning, I found a pair of pants that had a lot of money in it, I think it was about 200 or 300 dollars. I half counted it, because when I lifted the pants off the floor, all the bills fell out and I had to pick them up. After I finished cleaning up, I went to find the owner of the pants and gave him back the money. He and his wife were very surprised (really, very), that made me so uncomfortable that I stayed until he finished counting the money. Then he thanked me several times throughout the day and even wanted to give me some money as a reward, which I refused. I didn't even think about taking it even though I needed it, that's why I felt so uncomfortable seeing his reaction.

In high school I had many opportunities to drink alcohol and other substances that I will not name, but I never wanted to do it, not because my parents prevented me or because it is something wrong for a minor, I just did not want to do it. I remember one day after leaving physical education, we sat down to talk on the bleachers and someone took out a bottle of aniseed, everyone started drinking and I just kept talking to them, since it doesn't bother me when they drink. After a while one of my classmates wanted to force me to drink and I refused, that made the whole group start to insist and make fun of me, I simply refused them and left. The next day they apologized and did not insist again.

I am not the best person in the world, I have many flaws, but as long as I can I will follow my principles. I'm not going to say I never will because only God knows what will happen in the future, however, I will be faithful as long as I can. See you next time.