You Can't Please Everyone

Once upon a time, there was an old man travelling to a far away village with his son. His son was riding a donkey, while his father had to walk alongside him.

As the man and the son made their way to the village, the people that saw them on the road could not help but stare in awe. How dare a young man let his old father walk while he relaxes on the back of a donkey!

"How could you let your old man walk on the road while you sit on the donkey?" Called out one traveller to the old man and the son. "This generation does not respect their elders whatsoever!"

The old man and his son began to hear more and more comments from passerby. The old man was so tired of the comments that he decided to ask his son if they could switch places - him on the donkey's back, while his son walked.

Soon enough, other people had something to say even then! They saw the old man on the donkey's back while the boy walked, and called out "Would you look at that! The poor boy is walking while the father rests on the donkey's back!"

In a final effort, the old man decided to pull his son onto the donkey as well. Now no one could say anything to either of them!

"That poor donkey, he's going to faint if he has to carry those two any longer!" Called out another man on the road.

The old man thought of just giving up, but decided on another plan...

The old man and his son got off on the donkey, and started to walk behind it. Soon enough, they started to hear laughter.

"Those fools are traveling with a donkey, but won't even ride it!" said another random man.

At this point, the old man had enough. He went back on the donkey; which was where he was in the first place, and told his son as he walked alongside him:

"Whatever you do, people will always have something negative to say... to your face or behind your back! So, just do whatever you want."