I hadn’t seen this particular friend since secondary school, but a few hours ago, I visited her to sew my uncle’s funeral dress for me. What was supposed to be a quick fitting turned into hours of catching up.
During our conversation, she told me what had happened between her and her former best friend, who was also our secondary school classmate.
When I was in 100 level, I had housed her for a while after this friend chased her out of their place following a serious disagreement. I didn’t know the full story then; I only knew she needed somewhere to keep her belongings.
According to her, the former best friend had always been very authoritative. She didn’t just give advice; she expected people to follow it.
At the time, my friend was having problems with her boyfriend because he had cheated on her. She told her best friend, who advised her to leave him.
The advice made sense, but my friend chose to forgive him. Shortly afterward, he bought her an iPhone 11.
Instead of accepting her decision, the best friend became angry. The disagreement escalated, and she eventually kicked my friend out. That was how my friend ended up bringing her belongings to my place.
My friend stayed with the man. Eventually, he gave her ₦1 million to get a place and furnished it for her.
Meanwhile, the friend who had insisted she knew what was best for her was still living in a boys’ quarters.
Yesterday, the guy bought her an iPhone 16 Pro. She’s not hungry, and I screamed when I saw her. She’s okay and much better than before.
And the other girl? Oh, please.
The story reminded me of something important:
Listen to your friends, but never outsource your judgment to them.
People can love you deeply and still be wrong about your life. They may genuinely want the best for you, but their advice is often shaped by their own experiences, fears, and expectations. They see your situation from the outside; you are the one who must live with the consequences.
So listen, ask questions, think carefully, take what is useful and make your own decision.
You don’t have to argue with everyone to prove you have a mind of your own. Sometimes, you can simply listen respectfully and still choose a different path.
Not every piece of advice deserves obedience. Not every warning is a prophecy. Not every confident opinion is wisdom.
Learn to listen to people without losing yourself in their opinions. Friendship should give you perspective, not take away your ability to think for yourself.
Never be so influenced by someone else’s voice that you stop hearing your own.
So you want everybody to like you?
that’s a crazy way to live. Respectfully, you’re setting yourself up for a miserable life.
Because once you start making other people’s approval your priority, you’ll slowly lose yourself trying to keep everybody comfortable.
you’ll start overthinking every word. You’ll water down your opinions. You’ll pretend not to care about things you actually care about. You’ll change your personality depending on who’s in the room.
And the craziest part?
some of these people still won’t like you!!!😂
There will always be someone who thinks you’re too loud, too quiet, too proud, too soft, too opinionated, too reserved, too much or simply not enough.
You could literally bend over backwards for someone and they’d still find a reason to complain.
So no, I’m not interested in being everybody’s favorite person.
I’d rather be genuine and misunderstood than spend my entire life performing for people who will never be satisfied. Some will judge you unfairly. Some will simply not vibe with you…and that’s life.
Just try to be a good person. Have manners. Own your mistakes. Treat people properly.
But stop reshaping yourself just to be accepted.
Not everybody has to like you.
And honestly? That’s one of the most freeing things you can accept about life.