“Let people do what they want to do, so you see what they’d rather do.”
author unknown
Dear one,
I recently read this quote and immediately had complicated feelings about it.
The initial reaction started based on the first two words: let people. Assuming the people in question are adults, they have the autonomy and the right to think, do, and be what they choose. I’ve written about this thought in the past. If we find ourselves constantly wanting the people in our lives to act differently, we run the risk of trying to form them in our image.
My second reaction was based on so you see what they’d rather do. For me, this phrase is problematic because it bears the undeniable mark of defensiveness. When I read this, it tells me that the author is assuming that the people in their life would rather do something other than what the author would prefer, and that this is a problem for the author.
“Let people do what they want to do.” is a perfect and complete sentence. If what they want to do is not what you would want them to do, that’s your problem.
Never forget that I love you, and that excludes no one.
Love,
