The price of pretense

We hear this phrase all the time: be yourself. Well, the truth is we often pretend to be who we are not, consciously or unconsciously…and end up paying a painful price.

A fierce-looking and muscular guy, apparently a loan shark, came into a crowded and noisy coffee shop and called out in a booming voice.
“I’m looking for Leonard!” he said in an angry tone. Silence fell inside the shop. The customers were looking at one another, puzzled. “I’m looking for Leonard!’ he repeated, his voice growing louder. “Anyone of you here by the name of Leonard?” he asked as his eyes scanned every customer in the shop. All the customers kept quite and were frightened. Suddenly, a young man who was sitting at the corner calmly said without even looking at the loan shark, “I’m Leonard. What do you want?” In a flash, the loan shark pounced at him and threw heavy punches and kicks at him. The poor young man was bleeding all over but he hardly fought back. Finally, the assailant broke his fingers, gave one final kick on his ribs which also resulted in several more broken bones and a possible internal bleeding, and left the shop. The other customers, who were horrified by what had happened, came to help the young man. “Call the ambulance!” said one of them. Suddenly, the young man who was still lying on the floor, bleeding and obviously in terrible pain, started to speak. “I’ve got the better of him,” he said, half smiling. “Actually, I’m not Leonard.”