Sometimes, when you choose not to act, you are met with misunderstanding; when you choose to refuse, you are met with reproach. Few people notice how much time you sacrifice for others, or how much energy you expend for their sake. Even fewer will ask if you are weary or if you need a moment of rest. The clock on the wall ticks steadily, never hurrying for those in hardship, nor slowing down for those in prosperity. Unless you are a truly independent individual, you cannot offer genuine help to others, for it often results in you being a burden to them, or them being a burden to you. No matter how grand a hat may be, it is merely for protection from the elements; No matter how high a title may be, it is but fleeting glory. It is better to die standing for the truth than to live kneeling for a mediocre existence. Be like a natural flower: bloom fully when it is time, showcasing your most beautiful self, without fretting over the sorrow of falling; for after the blossoms fall, the bountiful fruits will naturally follow.
