In my part of the world Africa, precisely Nigeria. Adding appropriate titles like"deede"or"daalu('sir' or 'ma' ) when referring to an elder is considered an act of respect. But today I have noticed while observing the people around my neighborhood that bad comments, disrespect and disregarding people have risen so high in our society these days. To the extent that when you see two or more young people exchanging words, it will not end without abusing each other's parents. A young man can beat up an elderly and still feel good about it without showing any sign of remorse. Younger ones finds it so difficult to address their elders or superiors with appropriate titles. So I wondered "why is Respect so lost in my society?".
Well let's talk about Respect, and how we as a community can be able to show Respect to others effectively.
Respect as a value can be defined in different aspects. It can be defined as an act of showing consideration, attention and care for others. Respect can also be expressed as valuing someone's worth, opinions and feelings. There are different types of respect. It comprises of:
- Self Respect: This is when you value yourself and your boundaries.
- Interpersonal Respect: This involves treating people with dignity and kindness.
- Authority Respect: It means recognizing leaders, people in authority and experts.
- Cultural Respect: This is appreciating other's customs and traditions.
Now that we have defined Respect, let's discuss ways we can show Respect in our everyday life :
- When engaging in a conversation with people, try valuing their opinions and acknowledging their viewpoints. At the same time, listen attentively to the person that is not the time to start pressing your phone. Always maintain an eye contact if necessary. You can also nod in agreement and ask important questions.
- Avoid bad words or remarks, instead use polite and respectful languages like "please", "Thank you" and "Excuse me".
- Show appreciation or express gratitude when someone offers a help to you.
- Always take responsibility for your actions and admit to your mistakes. Please don't hesitate to apologize if at fault.
- Addressing our elders or superiors with appropriate titles such as; "Mr", "Mrs", "Sir", "Madam", "Dr" etcetera.
- Always respect people's traditions and cultures. Never bad mouth any tradition. Because I know you will not want others to speak ill of yours.
Now that we have discussed how to be respectful, what do we stand to get when we show respect to others?. Here are a few of them :
- People around you will love to associate with you because you respect their opinions and don't judge them.
- Respect builds trust and credibility. People will always feel free to converse with you and sometimes share their personal life and experiences with you.
- It also enhances personal growth.
- Respect stands out when it is shown. It's values are truly fundamental.