There are many problems with today’s generation and society but there always will be, no matter what we do to try and change it.
History exists to solely emphasise this point and and as a reminder not to repeat it. But it’s the little things that matter, so what is it that you and I can do to improve our lives?
One is that we can implement life-changing values and behaviours from other nations into our lives and then see the optimism and better living standards it welcomes us to.
Japan, in particular, is known for its mannerisms of cleanliness and hygiene. We are aware of this as in the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar, Japan’s fans cleaned their part of the stadium, a commendable action which they were recognised for in many articles and videos posted online.
They also did this four years before in Russia, which showed that is is part of their culture and something they pride themselves for. One comment many tourists made about Japan is that they were shocked to see no litter on the streets or any dirt anywhere else and that dustbins are rare in Japan because the Japanese encourage rubbish to be taken home.
Furthermore, in Japanese schools, there is something known as ‘osoji’ or cleaning time, where students clean their classrooms and school overall at the end of the year.
Sometimes, students get punished by cleaning their school in detention rather than sitting and doing nothing. This implementation could teach young children and teenagers to be respectful to their learning environment and teach them to take care of themselves by cleaning together with their friends.
And in Germany, values such as order and organisation, privacy and space are intrinsic in people. Germans are well-known for being organised and punctual, people who don’t interfere with other’s matters and concentrate on their own instead.
They also have traditions such as hanging a lost item on a tree, so the searcher can easily find it when they come back looking for it.
Due to their progressive and productive habits, they have achieved many great feats, in the past and present. Many great scientists and inventors belong to this nation such as Albert Einstein, Beethoven, Sebastian Bach, Karl Marx and many more.
One particular one I find rather interesting and helpful is the fake bus stops, an innovative solution for dementia patients who often leave their nursing homes in one of their episodes.
They wait for the bus, but it will never come, allowing more than enough time for the nurses to seek the patient or for the episode to end and the patient to realise that they have to stay in the nursing home.
Why can’t we emulate this kind of attitude in life? Not as a nation, or county or town or school, but as individuals. To perfect these etiquettes and spread the commitment to others and become people worthy of being who we are and want to be.
