This post is a direct reply to Anju Gandhi' post here about the suffering people undergo in order to escape from the wrath of 'what will others think?
How I got over this syndrome is by reading a great story when i was a child.
A father and son were coming back from market after buying a donkey.
First they let the donkey walk beside them. One onlooker pointed out that they are crazy to not use the donkey to carry one of them. Then the loving father put his son on top of the donkey and after walking some miles another person who came across said what a spoiled kid, children should not be pampered like this, let the kid walk and learn the hardships of life. So the humiliated father thought it’s better if he sits on the donkey.
After going some distance someone else pointed out to the father that he is stupid to not let the kid travel with him on the donkey. He pointed out that the donkey can carry them both. The father was ashamed why it never occurred to him. So he decided to carry the boy with him.
Half way home the donkey fell down and the father and son ended up carrying the donkey the rest of the way to home.
To those who listen to public opinion you will always have to carry your donkey sooner or later
