The Bitter Truth of the "Walking Stick": Why We Forget Who Helped Us Rise

There is a proverb that says: “When a blind man starts seeing, the first thing he throws away is the walking stick that helped him all his life.” At first, it sounds like a celebration of healing. But when you look closer, it’s actually a stinging commentary on human nature. It’s about how easily we forget the tools, the sacrifices, and the people who carried us when we couldn't walk on our own.

We’ve all seen this play out in real life. It’s the friend who finally gets the high-paying job and suddenly stops calling the people who supported them during their years of struggle. It’s the entrepreneur who reaches the top and forgets the early mentors who gave them a chance when they had nothing.

Why do we do this? I think it’s because the "walking stick" represents a version of ourselves we want to forget. To the man who can now see, the stick is a reminder of his days of darkness. It’s a reminder of his vulnerability, his dependence, and his struggle. By throwing it away, he thinks he is completing his transformation into a strong, independent person.

But true strength isn't about erasing your past; it's about honoring the things that got you to your future.

The "walking sticks" in our lives aren't just tools. Sometimes they are parents who worked extra shifts so we could go to school. Sometimes they are friends who listened to us vent for hours when we were at our lowest. Sometimes they are the simple, boring routines that kept us sane when our world was falling apart.

Throwing away the stick the moment you can "see" doesn't make you powerful—it makes you ungrateful.

If you’ve recently "found your sight" or reached a goal you’ve been chasing for years, take a look back. Don't throw away the stick. Hold onto it, not because you still need it to walk, but as a trophy of where you came from. The most beautiful thing a successful person can have is a long memory of the people and things that helped them when they were blind.