When we were younger, we were sent to school, as is custom, to learn about the ways of the world. It is safe to say that much of what we learned has been forgotten. The basic information we learned like safety rules or how to make friends has been long replaced by real life-altering data like finding the value of ‘x’ or why the moon has a weaker gravitational pull than that of the earth.

Of course, along the way of educational enlightening, we made choices about what we retained and what we sieved out. I did the same too. In favor of becoming a perceptibly smarter woman, I chose to retain learnings like psychological warfare in a social setting and how to fake smiles in the presence of extended family.

However, after some reflection, I have come to realize that most of the things we were taught in kindergarten were actual life lessons. If you look at any of the basic teachings, we were taught to keep us safe, not just on a physical, or practical level, but also on mental, emotional, or philosophical planes.

Don’t believe me? Here is a quick look at some rules we have forgotten and what they could be doing for us.

The Basic Rules

1. Know your vital information.

This could also be translated as 'Know yourself and what matters most to you'. And in many ways, we have forgotten what it means to simply be. We are often expected to meet expectations set down by society and we, in turn, contort our looks, personality, likes, dislikes, belief system, and, sometimes even, preferences of food.

At some point, we realize we realize that we do not recognize the person staring back at us in the mirror. We have to make a conscious effort to remember who we actually are deep inside and what makes us tick. The realization can sometimes be sublimated into an activity that gets us in touch with our real selves. Other times, it sends us spinning in directions we wish not to go like depression, anxiety, or just a general feeling of disconnection.

If we, like we were taught, 'know our vital information'. Know what matters to us and stick to it, refuse to bend ourselves to fit into molds dictated by others, I believe, we could be a happier race.

2. Stay away from Unfamiliar Animals

Not all animals wear fur and walk on fours. Some animals are hidden in human skin and would not hesitate to take advantage of us or our kindness. Just because they smile does not mean that they don’t hide a vicious bite. Although we translated this rule quite literally, it does have deeper implications.

There is a wildness in everyone and it is perfectly normal to let this out to play once in a while. However, this becomes a habit for some and this has some potential for harm. You see when we get used to the feral tendencies of others, we give them the license to be that way all the time. In most cases, this will cause harm, distress, and an absence of humanity. This is probably where all the brutal crime comes from. An inability to rein one’s animal in.

In strangers especially, keeping our distance means that we can get a better read on who or what we are dealing with. Getting to know someone before you divulge facts about yourself would keep you safe.

3. When Lost, Stay Where You Are

Before going to crowded places, this one rule was drilled into us. Instructions like 'Hold my hand', 'Don't wander off.', or 'Stop when we stop' were prattled off non-stop. This made a lot of sense and still has application today; regardless of whether you are in a crowd or otherwise.

We get dazed because we have so many roles to fulfill - financial pressures, familial responsibilities, moral obligations, societal expectations, and physical and psychological stress. It can all get too much and we get turned around and lose our way; often even forgetting where we were going in the first place. Being overwhelmed becomes all-encompassing and begins to bleed into everything we do. It is best to stop and stay where we are.

Psychologically speaking, stopping and standing still is the same as galvanizing our inner resources to get to work. Take stock of what we have, what we have lost, and what we can afford to lose. The exercise may not reveal solutions but it makes for an excellent starting/fighting point.

We are never truly lost. We only have to find the turn we missed.

4. If It Makes You Uncomfortable, Don't Do It.

This rule was mostly taught to identify sexual or physical abuse. And the way it stands, today’s world needs this more than ever. It is also supposed to help children with social or performance anxiety. Of course, we are encouraged to test new waters and push boundaries but do so only if we are comfortable taking those risks. No one is allowed to check comfort other than ourselves.

Most times, we try new things simply because ‘everyone else is doing it’ or ‘you’re boring if you don’t’. We are forced, in a way, to step over thresholds we set for ourselves simply because we do not wish to appear scared or unwilling, even though it is perfectly okay to do so. We feel like outsiders if we don’t participate in activities like everyone else. We do this for several reasons – love, acceptance, peer pressure, or familial obligation. It leads to many awkward situations and unhealthy life situations.

Maybe declining such situations is not always possible. However, the more we compromise on our comfort to put others at ease are only going to destroy us from within. Temporary reprieves do not count if we are constantly in fear of doing the same things all over again.

If we are uncomfortable, simply refusing would give us some inner peace, even though we may become temporarily unpopular.

In conclusion, teaching our young ones basic safety rules is essential. If not now, there will come a time for them to apply these rules to all facets of living. It may help them feel less foreign if they are comfortable in their skins, have a strong sense of self, and believe that their wishes and desires account for something.

Something, I wish I was able to do. 

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