If I Was In Your Shoes

We humans can be the smartest creatures on earth and yet be very ignorant.


How often do you find yourself swearing at that football player just because he kicked the ball and missed the goal by 2 inches?


How often do you find yourself raising both of your hands in front of the TV saying "What the heck is this guy thinking????" when watching a badminton match.


How often do you find yourself commenting on American Idol as if you're a professional singer and you know everything? (unless you ARE a professional singer then that's a different story)


Now, try this:


1. Before you swear at that football player, think about the gruesome amount of training he has to go through on a daily basis. Also, running around non-stop whilst trying to maintain focus for a good 90 minutes is NOT easy.


2. Before you scream "APA LAAAA!" at that badminton player, please remember no.1. In badminton, it could take more that 90 minutes. Even harder.


3. When watching a singing competition, before you start commenting on:
a. Why is he/she so nervous? Chill lah.
b. Sheessshhh! Why won't he/she move a little?
c. This song is not upbeat enough.
d. Pitching is off.


Try to remember that it takes a lot of courage just to get yourself in the middle of a crowd. To then perform, is another uphill challenge. To focus, to control and manipulate skills, to please the crowd.


See, it is hard to explain until you get to do it yourself. Then most probably, you will say what Adibah Noor once said to me after I performed together with 17 other people at DFP on one fine night:


"It takes A LOT of courage just to get out there and sing. You guys are very, very brave"


So I guess one has to be in another's shoes to understand. Sadly, not everyone knows (or cares about) this.


They'd like to think they are right all the time, throw wise comments and forget to consider about how it is like to be in his/her shoes.