6 July @marinnewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2790: Define It.

This is my post on #freewriters2790 #dailyprompt define it hosted by @marinnewest's.
Elias, the elderly man, was sitting on his porch swing, observing the dust devils as they danced across the arid Nigerian terrain. Amina, who is eight years old, tugged at his wrapper. She said in a reedy whisper, "Grandpa, what does 'define it' mean?"
Elias's laughter sounded like the rustle of dry leaves. "That is an age-old question, Amina. The term "define it" refers to naming something, defining its boundaries, and stating what it is and is not.
Amina scowled as she picked at a stray thread in her gown. "Like the goats? We refer to them as goats.
"Just like that!" Elias gave him a nod. "A chicken and a goat are not the same thing. Our definition of them is based on their nature and traits.
He stopped, looking off into the distance. But, little one, it is not just animals. Emotions are defined by us. Is that knot in your stomach a sign of worry or hunger? Do you feel joy or just excitement in your heart?
Amina's gaze grew wide. "So, I consider myself to be sad if I am feeling that way?"
"Precisely," Elias replied, his weathered face lit up with a soft smile. And you start to comprehend it as you define it. Then you can decide what to do with it after you give it form. Will you allow melancholy to control you, or will you see it as a fleeting emotion that will eventually pass?
As the sun started to slowly set, the sky was painted in fiery hues. "There are times when we even define ourselves," Elias went on. Are you Amina, the courageous girl who helps her mother fetch water, or Amina, the quiet girl who enjoys stories? Both how you and the world perceive each other are influenced by your self-definition.
With a new insight emerging in her impressionable brain, Amina rested her head on his arm. Thus, "define it" refers to knowing what something is in order to know what to do.
Elias gave her hand a squeeze. "My child, you have laid it out perfectly."