What It Takes To Be a Fool
Alan John’s article on the Sunday Times last weekend left me pondering for a while. I particularly liked the phrase he used at the end, so meaningful it is I must put it up on my “Think: Reflect” column..and take time to remember it. It’s a really lovely phrase - simple, yet thought-provoking. Words like these never fail to captivate me and leave me drowned in deep thoughts...
Ok, question. How often do we find ourselves being put down by others - anyone, perhaps your friends, acquaintances, colleagues, or even strangers? Just like the case Alan John described in his article - someone chooses to donate to person/group A, and people will start questioning why this person chose to donate to A and not B, or C, or D, or E. And they say hey, what makes you think that A needs your help more, I think B or D deserves it more than A does! Yada yada yada…
Any action, decision, or behaviour can possibly invite disagreements and criticism from those around us. It could be the way one dresses, one’s daily habits, one’s likes and dislikes..any aspect of life. People tend to disagree more readily than they agree, unfortunately. When there is a clash of ideas, people start to get defensive, because nobody wants to look like he is “wrong”. It’s easier to point your finger at others first and put the other party down by imposing your perspective on him, isn’t it? That will make you seem “right” and superior to the one who gets criticized. Is this one ugly side of human nature?
When objections and disagreements are slapped in our faces, the easiest way is to start shaping our behaviour according to ways that others deem right or acceptable. If not, you’d be called a “fool”, which is bad enough..many people calling you one is enough to make you really seem like one!
How I wish sometimes that everyone can be so agreeable towards one another, and we can all be ourselves and feel comfortable about it. But in reality, people are often so critical about things. It is okay if you keep those thoughts to yourself, but making careless and blunt remarks in others’ faces is really quite insenstive of the person as it might hurt the person’s pride, especially if it concerns something personal.
This just reminds me of an old Chinese story of an old man, his son and their donkey. What is the moral of the story? We can never ever be able to satisfy everybody; whichever way, there will always be someone who will put you down.
There is no absolute right or wrong in everything, everyone knows it..eventually everything boils down to personal preferences. But zui3 ba1 shi4 bie2 ren2 de, if they do not learn to respect differences, there is nothing we can do. So the one thing we can do is just be yourself. Be who you want to be and follow your heart. You might risk being called a ‘fool’, but it’s ok cuz you are one who is true to your own heart.
Then again it’s easier said than done. It takes a great deal of courage, faith, and determination to be a happy fool. Believe in yourself, and not be defeated by remarks that people shoot at you. I’m still learning..
Cheers~ =)
Ok, question. How often do we find ourselves being put down by others - anyone, perhaps your friends, acquaintances, colleagues, or even strangers? Just like the case Alan John described in his article - someone chooses to donate to person/group A, and people will start questioning why this person chose to donate to A and not B, or C, or D, or E. And they say hey, what makes you think that A needs your help more, I think B or D deserves it more than A does! Yada yada yada…
Any action, decision, or behaviour can possibly invite disagreements and criticism from those around us. It could be the way one dresses, one’s daily habits, one’s likes and dislikes..any aspect of life. People tend to disagree more readily than they agree, unfortunately. When there is a clash of ideas, people start to get defensive, because nobody wants to look like he is “wrong”. It’s easier to point your finger at others first and put the other party down by imposing your perspective on him, isn’t it? That will make you seem “right” and superior to the one who gets criticized. Is this one ugly side of human nature?
When objections and disagreements are slapped in our faces, the easiest way is to start shaping our behaviour according to ways that others deem right or acceptable. If not, you’d be called a “fool”, which is bad enough..many people calling you one is enough to make you really seem like one!
How I wish sometimes that everyone can be so agreeable towards one another, and we can all be ourselves and feel comfortable about it. But in reality, people are often so critical about things. It is okay if you keep those thoughts to yourself, but making careless and blunt remarks in others’ faces is really quite insenstive of the person as it might hurt the person’s pride, especially if it concerns something personal.
This just reminds me of an old Chinese story of an old man, his son and their donkey. What is the moral of the story? We can never ever be able to satisfy everybody; whichever way, there will always be someone who will put you down.
There is no absolute right or wrong in everything, everyone knows it..eventually everything boils down to personal preferences. But zui3 ba1 shi4 bie2 ren2 de, if they do not learn to respect differences, there is nothing we can do. So the one thing we can do is just be yourself. Be who you want to be and follow your heart. You might risk being called a ‘fool’, but it’s ok cuz you are one who is true to your own heart.
Then again it’s easier said than done. It takes a great deal of courage, faith, and determination to be a happy fool. Believe in yourself, and not be defeated by remarks that people shoot at you. I’m still learning..
Cheers~ =)
posted by Jshan @ 18.10.05
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