Do Your Best And Leave The Rest.

A Man, his Wife and his Donkey.

Have you heard the tale of a donkey and its owner?

A man and his expectant wife embarked on a three-day journey with their donkey, which was a mode of transport back in the day.  At first, the wife rode on the donkey while her husband walked alongside them. Less than half a day into their journey, the husband overheard people laughing at him, saying, “Look at this fool! He has a healthy donkey, yet he is walking while only his young wife is riding it.”

Deciding to join his wife on the donkey, they continued on their way. When they arrived at a busy tourist market, the husband overheard people saying, “Look at this wicked man and his wife! The two of them are riding on the back of a poor donkey.”

He quickly dismounted and helped his wife down as well, leaving only their bags tied to the side of the donkey. Less than two miles into their journey, they stopped at a well to fetch some water. There, the husband overheard people saying, “Look at these fools, a richly dressed man and his wife both walking alongside their donkey when the donkey is meant to serve them.”

After reflecting on this feedback, the man explained his thoughts to his wife and decided that he would ride the donkey while she walked beside them. Just before sunset, a few hours into their journey, they encountered several people walking back from the city they were about to enter. The husband could hear them say, “Look at this wicked man; he is sitting on a donkey while his wife walks, carrying their baby.”

Frustrated, the man dismounted and said to his wife, “I have tried everything, but humans are never satisfied with my efforts.” He then asked her, “What do you suggest we do now?” She replied gently with wisdom, “My husband, ignore what people say, for you cannot make everyone happy.”

When my grandfather told this story at my brother’s wedding, some 30 years ago, contrary to all the guests’ expectations, he concluded, ‘The moral of the story,…… if you want a happy married life, listen to your wife!’ The entire hall erupted with laughter.

He went on to say that if you do not wish to be overwhelmed by the challenges that life will inevitably throw your way in your married life, you should always seek each other’s opinions.

He then concluded, stating that if you want to be happy individually and, most importantly, together, you must not heed other people’s opinions about you or your relationship.

No matter what path you choose, it is impossible to satisfy everyone. People will always have their opinions and engage in gossip—that's simply part of human nature. No matter what you do, others will talk about you, so you might as well pursue what brings you joy and live your best life. Make yourself your own priority.

What truly matters is the voice inside you and the self-assessment you make. Your dreams are important, and you are important! Your only real competition is the person you were yesterday. As long as you can look within and know that you’ve done your best given your circumstances, you can let go of your worries and embrace hope for the future. Stay focused on your journey and remember that growth is what counts the most.

Do your best and leave the rest!

(Made popular by a Nigerian musician, Ebenezer Obey)

By: Chris Kolade

Principal Consultant

United-In-Separation®

https://www.unitedinseparation.com