A level of maturity is when you stop giving explanations and choose silence. You don't argue, and even if someone speaks ill of you, you simply smile and move on, saying, "Yes, I am."
This doesn't mean you truly are what they say; it just shows that their words hold no significance for you. Remember this: a dog chases and barks at a moving car only for a short distance. The dog neither wants to take the car from you, nor does it wish to sit in it, nor can it drive.
Similarly, in the journey of life, certain people, without any purpose, try to obstruct your path. So, when you’re focused on reaching your destination and people attempt to create hurdles, don’t engage with them. Instead, stay focused on your goal.
Often, when I share my thoughts with friends or colleagues in the staff room, I mention a popular English proverb:
“When all men say, 'You are an ass,' it’s time to bray.”
Always remember:
You don’t need to become bitter.
You don’t need to seek revenge.
You don’t need to manipulate or lay traps.
You don’t need to be cunning or dig pitfalls for others.
Yes, you may have wounds—on your heart and your soul—but don’t prepare a balm of revenge for them. True healing comes from divine remedies, and heavenly ointments bring true solace.
Let go of what has happened. Move on from what others have done to you. Close the doors behind you and focus on moving forward. Leave those who have hurt you, caused you pain, or crushed your spirit to their own fate. Instead, focus on healing yourself, for you should not let circumstances define who you are.
Become what your actions, not your circumstances, shape you to be. Strive to be a servant of the Lord, which is to say, strive to become an exemplary human being.
