When it comes to criticizing and judging others, we are all experts. Without mercy, we go through life like judges, criticizing and condemning. But what would happen if we spent the same energy we use to judge others on trying to understand them? Could our understanding change the way we see people? What if we had the chance to walk in someone else’s shoes?

A few days ago, on one of those beautiful summer nights when the sky was clear, full of stars, and the temperature was pleasant, I sat quietly on my balcony, gazing at the sky. For some reason, whenever I look at the stars, I start to reflect on different topics, as if there’s something up there—maybe God—watching me and whispering something. That night, I wondered how much people tend to criticize others. I believe that because we struggle to cope with our own lives, we often focus on others to feel less miserable.

As I pondered this, I imagined walking in someone else’s shoes—stepping into their skin, seeing life through their eyes, and feeling what they feel. I realized that doing so would likely increase our understanding and make us less judgmental. Our hearts would open, and we’d treat others with more compassion, empathy, and kindness, becoming less harsh in our judgments.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” – Dale Carnegie

I always try to find examples to help clarify my thoughts. That’s when I imagined a story about a man around 30 years old who constantly criticized others. It didn’t matter if there was no real reason—he always found one. Day and night, he gossiped and criticized, and despite how unpleasant and despicable he was, he always found followers who applauded him.

One day, he went to a nearby shoe repair shop to collect a pair of shoes he had left for repair. As he entered, a strong wind blew the door shut. He rang the bell on the counter to call the cobbler, but there was no sign of him. After a few more rings and waiting, he decided to leave. But when he tried to open the door, it was locked. “Maybe it’s because of the wind,” he thought, but no matter how hard he tried, the door wouldn’t open.

“How will I get out?” he wondered. “Maybe there’s an exit at the back of the shop.” He walked down the narrow aisle behind the counter, searching for a way out or perhaps the cobbler. But as he walked, the lights began to dim. Soon, it was so dark he couldn’t see a thing. As he felt around for a light switch, he noticed something glowing. He approached the source of the light and discovered four pairs of shoes shining like stars.

Amazed, he picked up one of the shoes to examine it closely. Although they were ordinary shoes, the mysterious light made them extraordinary. He used one as a lantern, searching the shop for the cobbler or an exit, but found nothing. Every corner revealed no way out.

Frustrated, he sat down to wait. “Maybe the cobbler stepped out and forgot to unlock the door. He’ll probably return soon,” the man thought. Half an hour passed, then an hour, but the cobbler never appeared. Hungry, tired, and bored out of his mind, the man began to wonder where the cobbler could be. Out of curiosity, he slipped on one of the glowing shoes. It fit perfectly. He tried on the other. As soon as he stood up, something miraculous happened…

 

 

To be continued… 🙂