Societal value is deteriorating rapidly. Many factors are responsible, but the chief among them is civilization. Each agent of civilization comes with its merits and demerits. Civilization is raising the bar of the standard of living, while many people are desperate to live up to that standard. The pressure of keeping up with the changes happening around them makes some people go extreme.
When I was growing up, the things that were adored and valued then are now obsolete. I watched a video of a nursery 2 pupil signing out with her peers after graduating from nursery school. I was shocked initially, but then I realized that nothing remains the same forever. In the midst of all these, people engage in many vices to meet the standard. People cheat themselves and lie to one another. The world is like a jungle when the strong feed on the weak.
Within my own capacity, I also strive to improve my living standards. While I do this, the moral code that I will never find myself breaching is taking whatever doesn't belong to me and converting it to mine under any guise. It could be money or other material possessions. Once it is not given to me, it is not mine.
My father emphasized the importance of protecting one's integrity at all costs. One of those things that can jeopardize one's integrity is stealing. Right from my childhood, I have held this value in my heart. I avoid being desperate to acquire whatever it is that I wish to possess, but that is something that is outside my reach. I guard my life with the value of contentment.
When I was at the university, I was appointed to head a student body, and during the course of my tenure in the position, I had the opportunity to misappropriate funds to my advantage. I was pressured by my team members to compromise the process and enrich myself and other team members like my predecessors did, but I refused because doing that is a form of stealing. Converting public money into mine is stealing. I had to maintain my integrity in the face of numerous oppositions.
I absolutely believe that a day of reconning is coming for thieves. No victim of theft would directly or indirectly pray for the thief who brought him sadness. I am mindful of this.
There is one thing with stealing: it diminishes one's respect. There was a day that my organization was doing a program to host all the staff to an end-of-year party. The food for the party was parked in takeout parks. In a room where the food was kept, a woman who I least expected could do that went and picked up four of the packs. At the point of sharing the food, it was discovered that some packs were missing. Luck ran out of her when someone who saw her when she was leaving the room with the packs narrated everything. The head of the organization disgraced her publicly. It was an embarrassing moment, and I felt bad for the woman at some point. I realized that what brought about the disgrace was her stealing habits. The respect that people had for her diminished that day. She became the shadow of herself till the end of the program that day and beyond.
I detest stealing, and I can't find myself stealing directly or indirectly. Whatever I don't have, I can't afford to procure; I don't fall in love with it. When it becomes necessary, I can beg for whatever it is that someone can assist me with instead of stealing under any guise.