[Liara Covert]

These postings provoke thought. Over the years, "helplessness" has been the feeling that I initially had tough time understanding. We often develop a desire to rescue or supposedly help people, but we seldom realize that our ulterior motive is to impose our own version of a healthy and fulfilling life. I've known smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics and other individuals with self-defeating tendencies. In each case, I had to realize it wasn't my place to try to change these people. I could take the keys and drive rather than permit them to threaten their life and mine. But, they were in control of their bodies. They had to determine if change was a thing they wanted and figure it out for themselves. It's hard for me to watch someone hurt with no desire to change. I do my best to distance my own emotions and realize part of the reason I'm human is because of my ability to feel and empathize.

We are each on a journey. Part of mine has included learning how not to try to control or judge the destiny or people I know and strangers I care for. You can encourage people to come to you for support or encouragement. You can prompt them to ask questions to help them see consequences of their actions on other people. You can be firm and choose not to enable their self-destructive habits. Establish your own emotional, financial and other limits. Realize that you can lead a donkey to water but you can't make him drink.