In a world where betrayal and mischief are sometimes mistaken for cleverness, one often has no choice but to trust people to be who they truly are. ❤️ Through their behaviours, everyone you meet quietly reveals their values, principles, mindset, and personality. When we pay attention, life itself becomes a teacher.
There is a popular saying that we should not judge a book by its cover because appearances can be deceiving. Yet, the understanding of anything begins with perception and then grows through experience. ❤️ It is through observation and experience that we truly come to understand the subject we are studying—especially when that subject is human nature.
People often see others through their own lenses. However, you will save yourself a great deal of energy if you simply trust people to be themselves, rather than assuming that because you are good, everyone else must also be good. ❤️ Sometimes wisdom begins with accepting this simple truth.
A wise man once went to a stream with his child to fetch water. Suddenly, he noticed a scorpion struggling to escape from drowning. Moved with compassion, he tried to save it. Each time he stretched out his hand to scoop the scorpion from the water, it stung him. Still, he continued. On the fifth attempt, despite being stung repeatedly, he finally rescued it.
Curious, his son asked, “Father, why did you continue trying to save the scorpion even though it kept stinging you?”
The father replied, “It did not sting me because it wanted to die; it stung because it was created to sting. ❤️ And I did not stop helping it because, as a human being, I have compassion and was created to help others.”
He continued, “Therefore, we are all behaving according to our nature and convictions. It would be an error for me to allow someone else’s behaviour toward me to determine how I choose to live my life. I will continue to be myself in all situations.”
Some may argue that a wise person will not allow the same stick to poke them twice before cutting it down. ❤️ There is wisdom in learning from experience.
A tortoise once called his children and asked them, “How many times should something happen to you before you learn from it?” Some answered once, others twice. But the youngest replied, “Father, I will learn from what happens to other people.”
His father embraced him and said, “It is only a tree that hears it will be cut down and still stands.”
Here we see two fathers teaching their children important principles about life and relationships. ❤️ My humble reflection, however, is this: always remain yourself, and trust people to be themselves.
This means that when you show kindness to someone and they take it for granted, it does not mean you should stop being kind. ❤️ But it also does not mean you must remain where you are not appreciated.
Be good. Be kind. Be generous. ❤️ Yet guide your goodness with wisdom. When people display mean behaviours, it does not necessarily mean you are the problem; often, they are simply revealing who they are—or what they lack.
Some people have known only betrayal, hurt, hatred, and rejection for so long that they genuinely do not know how to respond when they encounter kindness. ❤️
I once watched a program where a woman wanted to divorce her husband because he was too faithful. She had become so used to being cheated on that she no longer knew how to handle peace of mind and genuine loyalty. ❤️ Such is the strange way past experiences can shape people.
In summary, a snake will always be a snake. ❤️ Therefore, do not change who you are because of someone else’s behaviour or attitude. Remain yourself. If possible, distance yourself from those who continually harm you. If it is someone you cannot cut off, remain yourself and try to influence them positively.
Remember this: if you cannot make someone better, please do not make them worse. ❤️ Remain yourself, and trust people to be themselves.
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi ❤️
Pen it down. 