There's a story in Spanish about a donkey, an old man, a kid and their stuff. They were traveling across a country. During their trip, they found several parades.
In the first parade, someone approached the old man and asked him: "Why is that donkey carring only your stuff? Make it carry the child! Poor kid!"
So the old man did, and the donkey started carrying the child, as well as their stuff. They kept going, and found a second parade. Again, someone came to speak to the old man, but this time the person asked: "Why is the child riding the donkey? You are old, he has energy. It should be you instead!"
And so the old man got up to the donkey’s back and let the child walk. And they kept traveling...
There was a third parade they found along the way. Here, some kids came towards the travelers and shouted: "Hey, old man! Why aren't you smart? Why won’t you ALL travel on the donkey?! That’s what it’s made for, come on!"
Once again, the old man did what he was told. Now he, the child and their stuff were all traveling on the back of the donkey. They kept going...
Finally, they arrived to their destination, and found yet another parade where a group of angry people approached: "Why are you doing this to this poor donkey? Poor animal! Can't you see it's suffering? You should be in jail! We don’t want you here, go away!"
Well, I think that beyond the obvious "Humans are dissatisfied by nature and nothing you do will ever seem right," there's something more: Which one is the
right way of thinking?
Has the old man priority? Maybe the child? What about the donkey? Or maybe nobody should have an opinion on this?
Well, first of all, everybody should have an opinion. It doesn't matter if it's wrong.
Just have it, and speak it. I am not saying that you should start a war over your opinion. Just share it. It's important that we all learn how to communicate and grow from each other.
Then, I personally believe that the donkey has the same rights than anyone so, if he's
walking, why not the people around? However, I'm also aware that not everything is black or white. I mean, what if the old man was sick and needed a doctor? Is it right to ride a animal in that case?
Maybe not right, no, but if I was strong as a donkey and was there, I'd carry him on my back too. So I suppose is not wrong either.
All of this came to my mind because I so often have opposed opinions about important matters, and I bet many people have the same issue. Because, like I said, not everything is black or white.
There is no absolute right and wrong.
There is not a single truth or a single point of view.
There are many shades. That's the beauty of it all. But what to do when in doubt?
It is a matter of focusing on yourself. Inside of each one of us are all the answers. So ask yourself: "Who is affected by my current opinion? Why? Who benefits? Have I been ‘educated’ to think this way? Where does this idea/opinion come from? From whom?”
In the end, you should be left with one important question "
Do I REALLY want to think this way?” or, better said, “is this way of thinking helping my evolution?"
If we think that our own evolution is directly linked to each other’s evolution, then answering those questions should help you clarify the doubt. Also, we must remember that, whatever our opinion is, there will always be someone or something against it.
Listen to that opposite, because the "truth" should be that ephemeral thing somewhere in the middle of you both.
