Bad Habits – That Can Be Controlled

I’m diving into an unpopular yet important topic today. These are purely my personal views, so please take them with a pinch of salt—or maybe pepper or sugar, depending on your taste! 😄 My intention is simple: to protect and guide the next generation, especially our children.

Growing up, I was that typical front-bencher, the “studious” type. 📚 My parents were strict and instilled in me the values of avoiding certain bad habits—like using bad language, smoking 🚬, and drinking 🍷. Much like Mahatma Gandhi (the other MG), who made a vow to his mother, this MG (Madan Ganesh) was also raised with firm principles. These lessons weren’t just for me; they mattered even more because I had two younger sisters. I knew that my character would reflect on their future, especially when it came to finding a suitable match! Our family was close-knit, and I was deeply attached to them. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

I followed these rules very strictly—sometimes, perhaps, a bit too strictly. 🤔

During my diploma days, I avoided bakeries altogether because, back then, people smoked inside them. 🚭Some of my friends smoked, and I would politely ask them not to blow smoke in my direction because I couldn’t stand the smell! I often wondered how people could willingly do something they knew was harmful. 🤷‍♂️

One incident sticks out in my memory. After finishing my lab assistant duties, a senior playfully blew smoke in my face. I burst into tears, telling him, “My parents will scold me!” When I reached home, my grandpa (thatha) opened the door. Before I even greeted my family, I rushed to the bathroom to shower off the smoke before meeting my parents. 🧼

There are two key takeaways from this story:

1. Following parental advice and living by one’s principles is admirable. ✅

2. However, being afraid of parents is not ideal. In retrospect, I see now that I may have overreacted. I should have calmly explained to my parents what had happened instead of letting fear dictate my actions. 😬

Smoking isn’t the only habit I avoided—there’s also drinking. 🍻 While everyone knows alcohol is bad for health, it’s sad to see that corporate culture in India has normalized it. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a movie that doesn’t feature scenes of drinking or liquor shops. What’s worse, many governments run profitable alcohol businesses! 🙈

This brings me to you: What advice do you give your children about these habits? When your teens or kids see these behaviors in movies or among friends, how do you guide them with positive discipline? 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Another less-discussed but equally important issue is pornography. It’s one of the biggest distractions for youth today! 💻📵 During my college days, I knew friends who would gather CDs and head to theaters to watch such content. I always found it awkward and avoided. Recent movie OMG2 decently explained the situation and provided some advise. So, how do you talk to your children and teens about channeling their energy into more creative and meaningful activities? 🎨🧑‍🏫

My ultimate goal is to help the next generation uphold our values while handling difficult situations with care and wisdom. Let’s continue to guide them positively so they can grow into responsible, healthy individuals. 🌱✨