You have probably heard how bad behaviour can spiral into bigger problems.
For instance, telling one small lie leads to larger deception since the previous smaller lie may need to be covered up by another minor lie, which is subsequently solidified by another tiny lie, and further along, creating an ocean of lies.
I shall define improper behaviour as any action that violates acceptable standards or norms. (But if you believe some lies are appropriate, I won’t argue.)
Other examples include talking over people and being rude to wait staff.
Note that this post is not about analysing lies.
This writing might get a little gross so proceed with caution (and maybe don't eat while reading).
Anyway, let’s move on.
Bad habits can be formed easily.
At times, it can be enjoyable, but we should make an effort to break them.
Keeping in mind that improper behaviour, if unchecked, can become a compounding problem.
(This is simply because saying “a stitch in time saves nine” is too mainstream).
While we can talk about bad habits all day, it’s also important to acknowledge the deep ways these behaviours affect not just the individual but also the people around them.
These habits have a ripple effect that influences others’ involvement and engagement, leading them to create their own perceptions and adaptations.
Over time, those affected by these habits can adapt in worse ways than the initial problem.
One day, I went to use the restroom in a public place and spotted a bottle full of pee just chilling in one of the urinals.
Someone must have thought it was hilarious to drop that in there.
A couple of hours later, I needed to use the restroom again, and the pee bottle was still hanging around at the same spot.
However, it wasn’t alone this time;
Alongside it lay some crumpled toilet paper, all thoroughly soaked in pee.
As I walked away, I couldn’t help but think about how messed up the whole situation was.
It seemed like there were at least two people who acted inappropriately.
The first was the one who thought it was a good idea to leave a bottle of pee as a “gift” for others. Honestly, who does that?
It left me feeling disgusted and scratching my head at how inconsiderate some people can be.
The second user (and possibly the third) must have acted improperly based on certain assumptions, and here’s why:
The toilet paper dispenser was conveniently placed next to the sinks for the purpose of drying hands after washing them.
Therefore, the second user likely took hygiene seriously, but then spotted the urinal with the bottle and thought, “Why not? Let’s fill it up.”
Because using the urinal as a trash bin is supposed to be the new cool – crazy.
Compounding this already crazy situation were the urine-soaked pieces of toilet paper.
These could indicate that the paper became contaminated from urine residues left in the urinals, or another individual entered shortly after and chose to urinate on the discarded papers and the bottle, further polluting the area.
It’s important to note that there were four urinals available in total, but only one became the unfortunate target of this disregard for cleanliness.
So the excuse that there was just one urinal isn’t tenable.
I often think about how some people act without a sense of responsibility.
These folks often act without any consideration for how their actions affect those around them.
They don’t give a hoot whether it involves people, animals, communities, or even objects.
These thoughts linger in my mind, especially when I hear people voicing their frustrations about ineffective leadership, poor management, and even bad governance.
Ironically, the very same individuals, when presented with position of authority or leadership, tend to shift the blame onto previous leaders and then fall into the same negative patterns themselves –and the cycle continues.
There are three possible responses to the situations we come across:
- Leave it as it is: Sometimes, it’s tempting to ignore a problem and let things stay the same.
You might not have the right tools to sort out the problem, so you just have to let it be.
But if the plan is going on well, always remember, “if it ain’t broken, you don’t fix it”. - Make it worse: We can unintentionally (or intentionally, as per the scenario above) make things more complicated by our actions.
This can escalate things and even create bigger problems. Watch it - Attempt to improve it: This is the most constructive path, where we actively engage with the situation to seek a better outcome.
This involves being mindful of the situation and taking conscious steps to improve it. Strive for this.
In every situation, it’s vital to think about how our actions will affect those around us.
By putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes, we can understand their thoughts and feelings, which helps us respond with greater compassion and understanding.
We can all work on getting better at this over time.
If you catch yourself falling into negative patterns or behaviours, take a moment to pause and reflect on how your actions might be affecting the people in your life.
By doing so, we all have the opportunity to foster a more supportive environment for ourselves and for those around us.
Every small effort can contribute to a larger positive change (Just because change begins with you is now too mainstream).
Finally, I’m not saying you should go digging through urinals to pull out pee bottles in public restrooms —that would be gross.
But at the same time, please don’t complicate the situation further.
For those curious about what I did in response to the problem, I found the number for the maintenance team and called to report the situation and just hoped they resolve the issue.
They did.
A few days later, I received a message from them thanking me for bringing it to their attention, which made me feel like my efforts were appreciated.
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