Army of Me

This was me today.



The Flaggin' Wagon is in the shop, and my mechanic loaned me a Suburban that is bigger than my bedroom. I have to grab the steering wheel and haul myself up into the seat. As soon as I saw it, this video came to mind.

As the lyrics started on auto-play in my head, they seemed really timely. Earlier this week I observed someone I respect challenging another person to do something they were afraid of, and the next day I found myself doing the same for someone else. In both instances it was done with gentleness and love ("Would you consider doing this thing even though it scares you?") and not in the tough-love tone of the song ("Self-sufficiency, please, and get to work"). And in the case where I was doing the challenging, the other person got something they needed because they took that risk, and told me, "Thank you for pushing me."

I'm pretty sure I'd never actually say to someone, "You're on your own now/We won't save you/Your rescue squad/Is too exhausted," but the sentiment isn't too far off from where I've been this past week, and I appreciate the lessons I'm learning about letting go of the illusion of control, which is about fear, and learning to afford others the "dignity of risk" and the right to fail.