do'er in the headlights

a kayaking friend's blog (and picture) recently reminded me of my response to my grandmother when i was asked what i wanted to be when i grow up. without hesitation i replied that i wanted to be a "do'er". when questioned further about what that was i informed her that i was going to "do" everything..... a noble cause for a seven year old i was told. i think that at times, in the past years, that philosophy has gotten me into trouble more than not.... trying to do everything takes time and takes time away from everything else too. i've neglected friends and family in my pursuits, but have had good intentions, even if misguided at times. i always thought i was creating a better environment for those around me. i would call this phenomenon, "do'er in the headlights"..... we get so focused on what's coming at us that we forget to run the other way.

i am proud to have raised four very sensitive children to adulthood and know that their caring for those around them will take them far. there are always pitfalls to being sensitive, but it is a much better path Way than the alternatives. right now my youngest daughter is championing a rescue operation for dogs/puppies in Seattle, even as she is unable to find gainful employment in her field. she has a PhD in compassion for animals and small children.

if there are indeed "do-ers and be-ers" we might want to consider the problems when placed in combination. opposites do attract and sometimes the consequences of their combination can be dangerous. i had a friend that told me "two beers are better than one"..... and well, whenever there is one deer next to the road there will usually be two....... where is this going? i'm sure there is an analogy in here somewhere. i think that as the accompanying picture shows, do-ers and be-ers don't always mix; two be-ers together can be toxic at times, but definitely interesting; and two do-ers together can often times be pure trouble. that is the stuff of romance novels and auto repair shops i'd be willing to guess.

for now my only advice is to drive slowly, keep your eyes on the road, and your hands on the wheel; you never know when there will be a "do-er" in your Path...