Belief

Summary

Georgiana Petec reflects on the belief systems she was raised with in communist Romania, particularly the disbelief in Santa Claus, and how these beliefs shaped her personal growth and perspective.

Abstract

In a contemplative piece, Georgiana Petec delves into her past, examining the beliefs instilled during her childhood in a communist Romania where Western traditions like Santa Claus were replaced by "Mos Gerila" to suppress religious influence. She credits her family with her curiosity and growth, as being unseen and undervalued led her to seek out and read the Bible multiple times before the age of ten. Petec acknowledges the profound impact of these early experiences on her current views, expressing gratitude for the challenges that ultimately led to her self-discovery and appreciation for diversity of thought.

Opinions

The author challenges the beliefs she was raised with, suggesting a departure from the communist ideologies of her childhood.
She humorously reflects on the absence of Santa Claus, replaced by "Mos Gerila," as a significant cultural difference enforced by the state.
The author believes that being unseen and undervalued as a child fueled her curiosity and quest for knowledge, leading to her personal growth.
Petec is thankful for her upbringing, as it provided the contrast necessary for her to value self-acceptance and the ability to question and grow beyond her initial environment.
She implies that restrictions, such as those placed on reading the Bible, can paradoxically lead to a greater interest and appreciation for the forbidden subject.

Tuesday: What is a belief you were raised with that you now disagree with?

Where do I begin? One. Just one. Focus. Weed out the overgrown jungle left behind those rusty gates hiding childhood memories.

It’s hard to choose. Some are dancing now in my mind’s eye more attractively than others, but that doesn’t mean anything; they’ve just been recently dug up and dirt has been blown off of them into the winds, that’s all. Mean. Ugly. Stupid. Not worthy of love. Insignificant. Wait, maybe it’s not about the self.

Santa? Ho ho ho. That one makes me giggle. Father Christmas was not allowed in communist Romania. Mos Gerila (Old Frosty) due to come on December 31st had the major duty to wipe out all those silly church ideas about the Christ and his birth. That’s why bibles came hidden in Romania translated badly wherever possible. That’s why I read the bible so many times before I even turned ten. Human nature. You tell people they’re not allowed time and time again, they’ll become extremely interested.

So I guess I owe my family everything. Had I been seen, loved, treasured, I’d still be there, in a puny poor prejudiced corrupted bubble, blind to everything else, deaf to everything else, muted.

Thank you so much for reading. Happy Holidays with peace, joyful moments and mountains of love! 🙏🎊🎍

Thank you 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊. for the amazing prompts you grace us with:

Belief

Tuesday: What is a belief you were raised with that you now disagree with?

Parent

Wednesday: Describe a decision you’re facing right now. Which path will lead to most growth?

Self Growth (3)

Friday: How do you balance self-acceptance and self-improvement?

Self Growth (2)

Wednesday: What emotions do you find it hardest to accept within yourself?

Self Growth

Monday: How do you measure personal growth? How do you know when you’ve grown as a person?

Weekly Prompt: 21–25.12

2 Days of Reflection + Poetry