The Oxford Language Dictionary defines a ‘quirk’ as a peculiar aspect of a person’s character or behaviour. So I have quite a few, and I would share them with you. If your quirk does not constitute harmful behaviour, then it can be forgiven. Some people’s quirks are annoying. Others still encroach on other people’s space and so can be intrusive and sometimes invasive. These ones mentioned should be avoided at all costs.
So here are some of mine.
a) I do not drink water from a cup or glass that has been used for something else, even if that something was drunk by me. So I could not possibly drink water from a mug I just used to drink tea or from a glass from which I had just drunk a fruit juice. Some of my family members cannot get over it. Well, it’s all going in the same direction, your stomach. But it does not work for me like that. I just cannot.
b) I love wristwatches, and a lot of friends have given me wristwatches as gifts in the past. But I simply do not wear them. I have no idea why I never remember to wear a watch or simply don’t care for them. Not my thing. And I am not unmindful that there are persons whose greatest joy is to be gifted with a wristwatch at every celebration. This is just one of my many quirks. Oh, by the way, before mobile phones became a thing, I could stop anyone on the street and ask for the time. It does not matter to me. Now I just look at my phone. I am yet to see the watch that will keep me so engaged that it will become my wrist romance.
C) When I was younger and would stay overnight at a friend’s house and sometimes share a bed, I could not bear the breath of another on my face. So, I would lie down in the opposite direction from my friend, with my head away from hers. Simply put, upside down. And trust me, it’s healthier anyway.
d) I cannot stand mixed soups, which are the specialty of some of my friends. Egusi and Ogbono. Why do you have a drawer and a seed soup? Please! Oh! You are either eating Ogbono or Egusi. I cannot. Note: there are people who can swear by it.
I have met all sorts of people with different and incredibly unbelievable quirks. People who have to go for an evening walk before they sleep. People who won’t cut their hair until they have a truly personal brush of their hair. There are those whose quirks are selfish and strange, like those who must be in the front of a queue at all costs, whether it’s for food or for flyer distribution.
Most of these quirks I have talked about today are not terribly disruptive in the main. So, which quirk do you need to get rid of in 2026? Think hard. Which one is antisocial? Which ones are not people-friendly? Which one can lead to manslaughter, like answering a phone while driving? Yes, it’s a quirk and bad for driving.
Many years ago, my spouse showed displeasure at my one unusual quirk in the elevator. Chatting with him. I could not wait to tell him how my day went. I was upset that he could not understand my excitement at the end of the day. Then he let me be. So I would tell him all about my day in Igala. But he would not respond. After being ignored through two outings in the elevator, I told him angrily that I was not even speaking in English. He calmly told me that there might be some people who understand Igala. My quirk got the better of me, and I simply stopped on some occasions when my day was not so exciting, but continued nonetheless.
When the day finally came, it was epic.
In the elevator, as usual, I was chattering away, and my husband was behaving like he was just my guest. As we stepped out of the elevator, a young man who looked rather random greeted us both in clear Igala. Oops! He had heard everything I said. My husband said not a word. But that quirk evaporated. Never happened again.
What quirk do you need to get rid of in 2026 that adds no value or is harming someone, or is hurtful?
Also, you can share your quirks with me. Let’s share a laugh. I might even publish some in my column. Happy weekend!
