Keep your friends out of a box ...

"If you treat an individual as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The first thing that came to me when I read this was a friend of mine who teases me about burning things when I was in my early 20's. Cooking and me ... well, lets just say those glass pots didn't help!

It's been close to ... 20 years and he still laughs and pokes fun at me. Truth is, I still burn stuff now and then and it's really funny! And I don't mind, because you know, I cook good things too. Lets see if I can still say that after Easter this year. I'm helping cook at his house.

BUT ... where I'm going with this is sometimes we keep our friends and family in a "box" by always reminding them of their mistakes, not being as supportive of them as we could be, not acknowledging them for "who they are today" and perhaps "what their goals and aspirations are" TODAY in the here and now ...

I think that's not so good ... I mean imagine going to a friend or family member and having them remind you of how scattered you always were and what makes you think that you can accomplish "plah" today?

That's pretty undermining isn't it? Try to view an old person in a new light. You may be surprised what some support from those closest to you may yeild.

Course, not all friends and family are as supportive as we need. We do need different kinds from time to time. So seek other support systems or groups to help you too.

We all need some support at any given moment. Just because you may not be getting it from family and friends, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

What do you think? :)