March 29th, 2011

Have you ever been on the outside of a situation watching those involved flailing about helplessly? As a person of action, my first instinct is to step in and do everything I can to fix the problem, but too often there is really nothing I can do but offer my advice. Once the advice is given, then I sit on my hands watching helplessly while nothing is done. I have found myself in this situation more than once and each time it breaks my heart that I am unable to really do anything to help. Maybe my place is only to offer the advice? It is like watching a plastic bag flying down the street. You know the wind is blowing too hard for you to catch the bag and any attempt made is futile, but do you still try to catch the bag anyways? Or, do you shout to someone directly in the path to catch the bag then watch as they stick their hands in their pockets and make no attempt to stop it? I want what is best for my friends and my family, but no amount of me wanting what is best for them will cause them to do what I think they should do. I guess faced with the decision between what is easy and what is right, most people choose what is easy and blame their decision on external causes that are clearly out of their control. I am at a loss for words as I watch those I love the most spiral out of control with no hope of stopping them. Any attempts to catch that bag are met with the bag shouting for me to go away and let it fly free as the wind for flying is surely better than standing still even if it means safety. I have so much more to verbalize about this one but when I do, it seems that I am just repeating what I have already said using different words or different scenarios.