SITCOM SITUATIONS

I wish my life ran like one of those 30 minute 90's family sitcoms. Is that too much to ask? To have my life work out like an episode of Family Matters or Saved By The Bell?

It's funny how every dilemma gets wrapped up nice and neatly during this time frame. If it's a real tough situation, sometimes it takes two episodes (or one full hour) to fix. No matter what's gone on (from car accidents to stealing money), everyone realizes what they should have done and rectify the problem. Opinions are changed, promises are kept and integrity shines in these comedic television tales.

That's not how life works though does it? Some life lessons need to be learned over and over again. For various reasons, people don't always change for the better. Sometimes, people and situations get worse. Real life can mean no closure, muddy transparency and pain that takes a lot longer than 30 minutes to recover from.

Writing this makes me a little sad. I think of times where I haven't learned my lesson because my pride won't let me admit wrong. It's also distressing to know that there are people who have done damaging things but simply don't care. Isn't that frustrating?

What's the lesson here? Well, we can't force people to choose a better path. They've got to choose it themselves. We can't always solve a serious fight with a friend right away. There's usually many more variables to consider. We can't argue or debate someone into seeing your side of things (it rarely if ever works).

What can be done is only through the one who has control over themselves. You can take time to pause, reflect and determine how you can improve yourself and the situation. That's it.

You are in charge of you. The buck stops with you. It might not mean a nasty situation is all wrapped up nice and neat but you can choose a much better course of action for next time. The answer, for now, lies with you.

If it means to apologize, apologize.

If it means setting boundaries, set them.

If it means that your position is firm, make it so.

In a world of make believe, know that the quick fix is rare but you can still do something incredible. You can choose to make the right answer moving forward.

It's you and it always will be.