Damian, His Donkey, and the People

There was a small, lively village by the hills where a man named Damian lived. Damian was a simple, hardworking fellow with a strong and loyal donkey, which had kept him company over the years of carrying goods to the market and doing jobs on his small farm.

One fine morning, Damian resolved to visit the town nearby and sell some produce. He packed some baskets and put them on the donkey, then climbed onto its back. Off they went, the trot of the donkey echoing down the dusty road.

As they passed a small cluster of houses, some villagers stopped what they were doing and started whispering loudly among themselves.

"Look at him!" a woman exclaimed, pointing at Damian. "How cruel! He sits on the donkey in comfort, and it struggles to carry him. Would he like it if somebody sat on his back all day?"

Another man joined in, shaking his head. "Poor donkey. He has such a heartless master. He's treating it like a beast with feelings.

Damian overheard their remarks and felt ashamed. "Maybe they're right," he thought. So, he climbed down from the donkey and decided to walk beside it instead.

The journey continued, but soon enough, Damian came across another group of people by the roadside. This time, they burst into laughter as he approached.

"Are you serious?" jeered one of them. "You have a perfectly good donkey, and you're walking? What's the point of having it if you're going to wear out your own legs?"

"That's the most foolish thing I've ever seen!" laughed another. "What a waste of a donkey!"

Damian scratched his head, feeling confused now. "Maybe they're right too," he muttered. He thought hard and decided on a new approach.

With a bit of effort, he hoisted the donkey onto his shoulders and staggered on down the road under its weight. The donkey brayed loudly, clearly unhappy with the arrangement.

It didn't take long before he encountered another group of travelers. This time, they stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with disbelief.

"What on earth are you doing?" one man shouted. "Carrying a donkey? Are you out of your mind?

"Preposterous!" exclaimed another woman. "Who carries a donkey? He must be trying to impress someone!"

By now Damian was sweating and tired. At last, he lost his patience. Gently he put the donkey down, mopping his brow. "I've tried riding the donkey, then walking beside him, and now carrying him. Whatever I do, somebody always has a complaint!"

The travelers laughed, and a graybeard, who had been listening without uttering a word, stepped forward. "Damian," he said, "let me give you some advice. Whatever you do, people will always find fault. Trying to please everybody, you will tire yourself out, as you have done today.

Damian nodded slowly, realizing the truth in the old man’s words. He smiled, patted his donkey, and climbed back onto its back. “Thank you, wise one,” he said. “From now on, I’ll do what feels right and let people say whatever they want.”

With that, Damian and his donkey continued their journey, not minding whatever comments the people passing by were saying. And just as the old man had predicted, some people still grumbled, but Damian did not let it bother him anymore. He learned a valuable lesson: you can never please everybody, so it's better to follow your own heart.

So, Damian and his donkey lived happily, traveling wherever they needed to go, unbothered by the endless opinions of the world.