I received a note yesterday that reminded me of the tough situation a friend is facing. Like most of us, this friend has much to be grateful for, but this does not negate the tough situation she's in. From afar, I can think of lots of possible avenues of relief, but the topic is so sensitive that my faraway thoughts and ideas are not welcome. Is my friend digging a ditch of no return by not facing the situation at hand, or is she dealing with the situation in the best possible ways?
As I thought more about this, I thought of the tough situations I face and If I dig ditches of repetitive, seemingly unhelpful activity or if I work to gain new perspective, try out new ideas, and perhaps, make some positive gains? The answer is likely yes and no. I'm not one to give up, but I do recognize that when you are entrenched in a situation, it is difficult to gain new perspective or be open minded to the help and ideas of others.
In general, we want to steer clear of digging deep ditches that pull us far from the possible solutions and betterment that exist. It's important to break the kinds of habitual activity that leads to more of the same rather than new and better in tough situations. Yet, there are situations that at their best are still very tough to handle and difficult for people to understand. We can rarely judge the truth of the matter from a distance, although distance can create perspective.
As I approach the fall, I want to think about this challenge--the challenge to see anew and tackle ongoing issues with positivity and new ideas. Onward.