YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE, SO DON’T TRY

Everyone wants to be liked and accepted by others. So, people sometimes try to do things according to other’s preferences. But it is not always possible to keep everyone happy. There is a little story told to explain this saying in more detail.

THE STORY-

Once there was an old man and a little boy who was traveling to a town. They had a donkey with them while they were traveling.

On the way, they decided that the old man would walk and the little boy would ride on the donkey’s back. As they were continuing with their journey, they met some people on the way. Seeing the old man walking on foot and the little boy riding on the donkey, the group of people started remarking on them. The group of people said that it was shameful to see the old man walking and the boy riding on the donkey’s back. The man being old should have ridden the donkey instead. 

Listening to the onlookers, the little boy and the old man thought that they were probably right. They thought that it should be the old man riding on the donkey and the little boy should have walked. So, the two of them switched places instantly.

Now, they continued with their journey with the little boy walking and the old man riding the donkey.

As they went a little further, they met another group of people. As this group of people saw them, they commented on how selfish it is on the part of the old man to ride the donkey while the little boy walks. 

As they heard the people remarking about this, they decided that both of them would now walk by foot for the rest of their journey.

On the way they encountered a few more people. This time the people simply called the old man and the little boy to be stupid. They said that even though they have a donkey they prefer to walk on foot. Now, the two of them decided that both of them will now ride on the donkey together. 

They covered a little more distance on the donkey’s back. And very soon, they met another group of people on the way. This time, the people criticized the old man and the boy for being very inconsiderate towards the donkey. The people felt bad for the poor donkey that was made to carry such a heavy load on his back as he was carrying two people together. 

The man and the little boy thought that the people were probably right. So, instead, they decided to carry the donkey themselves. On the way, they had to cross a bridge to continue further, so they carried the donkey across the bridge. Unfortunately, they lost their grip on the donkey and it fell right into the river and drowned. 

The old man and the little boy could do nothing to save the donkey’s life. 

LEARNING-

From this story, it is evident that no person can make everyone happy. Like the old man and the little boy did everything that the people told them to, yet they met more people who were not happy with what the old man and the little boy were doing. In the end, they were both miserable. Not only that, but they also lost their donkey. 

In the process of pleasing other people, the old man and the little boy had to suffer immensely. Therefore, it is not in our hands to keep everyone happy. We should do what seems right to us instead of worrying about others.