He Forgot The Hands That Held Him — Until He Fell Again

 By Chris Ekeme

There’s something about the way a slow evening falls on a small town, how the heat slips off the day and the dust settles down like a soft blanket. It’s in that quiet, you start to think about what it means to get better. Not the quick fixes or the flashy promises. No, I’m talking about the kind of better that takes time. The kind that’s built on habits. Small, simple habits.

Here’s what I’ve seen. Ten habits that, bit by bit, shape a man or woman into something steadier, something kinder, something real.

1. Show up.

It’s easy to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” But tomorrow’s a tricky thing. The good ones, the real leaders, the strong ones, show up when it matters. Rain or shine. Early or late. They don’t wait for the perfect moment. They stand there, steady as a tree, even if the wind shakes their branches.

You don’t have to be the loudest or the fastest. Just be there. Being present means more than breathing the same air. It means listening, acting, and sometimes just sitting quiet until your time comes.

2. Listen more than you speak.

There’s a difference between hearing and listening. I’ve seen good folks nodding along while their mind drifts away. But real listening? It’s about the silence between words. The catch in someone’s voice. The pause that says, “There’s more.”

Try it. Put your pride aside. Let the other person fill the space. You’ll learn things that a thousand speeches could never teach.

3. Do small things well.

A leader once told me that greatness is stitched together with small stitches. It’s the way you tie your shoes, the way you shake a hand, the way you say “thank you.” Small things matter because they’re done every day. Over time, they pile up into something solid.

So don’t wait for grand gestures. Take care of the little things like you mean it.

4. Take your time.

The world’s moving fast. Sometimes too fast. But better isn’t rushed. It’s slow and steady. Like a creek cutting through rock, patience wears away doubt and builds strength.

When you feel the pressure, take a breath. Give yourself a moment. Let your thoughts settle like dust in the wind. Then move.

5. Admit when you’re wrong.

This one’s hard. It hits your pride right where it lives. But admitting mistakes isn’t weakness. It’s the quiet courage of a man who knows he’s not perfect.

It might be a slip in words, a bad decision, or a stubbornness that won’t quit. Own it. Apologize if you need to. Then learn and move on.

6. Keep your promises.

Promises aren’t just words. They’re bonds — like the roots of a tree holding it steady. When you break them, even little ones, it cracks something inside the people who trusted you.

So don’t promise more than you can give. And when you say yes, mean it. Let your yes be as solid as the ground beneath your feet.

7. Be kind, even when it’s hard.

Kindness isn’t about being soft. It’s about being strong enough to hold someone’s pain without turning away. It’s about a steady hand when the world feels heavy.

You might be tired, worn down, or even angry. But kindness cuts through all that. It’s the quiet light in a dark room. And it grows with practice.

8. Learn something new every day.

Some folks think learning stops when school’s done. But that’s the wrong kind of thinking. The world’s full of lessons, waiting in the small moments, a stranger’s story, a book’s worn pages, the way the seasons change.

Keep your mind open, even if your body’s tired. Curiosity is the slow fire that keeps the soul warm.

9. Take care of your body.

You’ve only got one, and it’s not a machine. It’s a weathered house, holding your spirit safe through storms and quiet nights. Feed it well. Rest it when it calls. Listen to its aches and pains.

Strength isn’t just in muscle or bone. It’s in the quiet steadiness of a body that’s cared for day after day.

10. Hold on to hope.

This might be the hardest habit of all. Hope isn’t loud. It’s not a roar. It’s a whisper, a soft pulse beneath the noise of fear and doubt.

Hope is the reason you get out of bed when the night was too long. It’s the reason you keep walking when the road is rough and the end is nowhere in sight.

These habits don’t promise glory or fame. They don’t shout their worth from rooftops. But they build something steady, a life rooted deep enough to stand through storms.

Becoming better isn’t a sprint. It’s a long, slow walk. It’s the small moments, the quiet choices. The hand you hold, the word you speak, the promise you keep.

Like the old farmers say, “The soil remembers.” What you plant today will grow tomorrow. So plant well. Tend your habits like you tend a garden, with patience, care, and quiet strength.

And in time, you’ll find yourself better. Not perfect, no. But stronger, kinder, more steady. Enough to stand tall when the wind blows hard.