When Enough is Enough (Or, Why You Can't Fix Everyone)

When Enough is Enough (Or, Why You Can't Fix Everyone)

You know, I've been thinking about people lately. The kind of people who... well, they just are who they are. And that's usually a problem. We all know someone like that, right? The guy who's always complaining, the woman who can't stop making bad choices, the cousin who thinks he knows everything.

We spend so much time trying to fix them. We offer advice, we lend an ear, we try to be supportive. We want to believe that if we just say the right thing, or do the right thing, they'll finally get it. They'll change. They'll see the light.

But you know what? Sometimes they don't.

They dig in their heels. They argue. They push back. And pretty soon, their problems become your problems. Their negativity starts to rub off. You find yourself exhausted, drained, and wondering why you even bothered in the first place.

That's when you have to ask yourself a tough question: how long are you supposed to keep beating your head against the wall? At what point do you say, "Enough is enough"?

Now, I'm not saying you should just abandon people at the first sign of trouble. Loyalty is important. But there's a difference between being supportive and being a doormat. You've got your own life to live. You've got your own problems to solve. You can't spend all your time trying to rescue someone who doesn't want to be rescued.

So, how do you know when it's time to walk away? It's not easy. You'll feel guilty. You'll feel like you're giving up. But here's my rule: when you can honestly look in the mirror and say, "I tried. I really tried. I did everything I could," then it's time.

It's time to let them go. It's time to focus on the people who appreciate your help, the people who are actually trying to make a change.

It's a tough decision. Maybe the toughest decision of all. But sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself, and for the other person, is to just... walk away. It doesn't mean you don't care. It just means you can't fix everything. And you know what? That's okay. After all, some people just have to learn the hard way. And there's nothing we can do about it. Unless... maybe there is?

And, you know, I’ve heard of people getting better with age, but I've never seen it.