21/11/2024
The famous actor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently shared a poignant photo of himself sleeping on the street, beneath his well-known bronze statue. Alongside the image, he wrote, "How times have changed."
His comment reflected not only the passage of time but also a personal experience tied to his past. When he served as governor of California, he inaugurated the hotel where his statue stands. The hotel management had assured him that he could visit anytime and would always have a separate room reserved for him.
However, after Arnold resigned and attempted to stay at the hotel one day, the administration refused him a room, citing that the hotel was nearly full and he would need to pay for his stay.
He brought a sleeping bag and lay down under the statue in response. He used this moment to express a deeper message: “When I held an important position, people celebrated me, but once I lost that status, they forgot their promises. Don’t rely on your position, wealth, power, or intelligence—those things do not last.”
He aimed to highlight that when you are "important" in the eyes of others, many will act as your "friends." However, when you no longer serve their interests, you may no longer matter to them.
"You are not always who you think you will be; nothing lasts forever."
People come and go, and their interests can shift overnight. They may embrace you today and betray you tomorrow, possibly even trampling on you.
The challenge, then, is to learn to choose our connections wisely, distancing ourselves from toxic and opportunistic individuals. We should strive to surround ourselves with those who genuinely care for us and appreciate us for who we are, rather than for what they can gain from us.