I read this somewhere and thought to share. It's an old story we are all familiar with especially those that have listened to the Ebenezer Obey's hit song that also tells this story:
Trying to please everyone
An old man, a boy and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.
Later, they passed some people that remarked: "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk!
Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.
Later, they passed some people that remarked: "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk!
Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.
The moral of the story? In life, if you try to please everyone, you might as well...
Kiss your dreams good-bye.
Kiss your dreams good-bye.
In life, I have come to understand that you just cannot please everybody and the more you give a damn about what everyone has to say about things you do and steps you take, then you'll keep living their lives and not yours. We are all different and unique and therefore would follow different paths and live life the best way it works for us. I'm not saying we have to be rebels or a deviance to the society; there are certain norms and ways of life we need to follow as long as we are able to still keep our identity and remain true to ourselves. We do not want to be a shadow of who we truly are and then become unfulfilled just because we do not want to be looked at as different. Just like a puppet on a string that ends up boxed up and put away once the show is over while everyone else moves on with life! Don't you know that people will talk anyway, whether or not you do it so why not just do what you want to do the best way you think you can and be happy with yourself. Do not get stuck moving in circles trying to please everyone while you end up tired and lost!
Also, looking at this from your own angle; you definitely talk about and even criticize others don’t you? Haven’t you seen people do things differently and society including YOU frowns at them but in the end they come out celebrated? Take a cue and keep minding your business and do not be intimidated by all the negative voices around you.
Always be the YOU that you are most proud of — that’s the authentic you; the closer you can get to the true you, the happier and more fulfilled you will be. Accept people for who they are not forgetting to accept yourself without judgment as you are.
When you try to please everybody, in the end, you won't please anybody