Often I find I'm developing a lack of patience for people who refuse to better themselves. You all know a person like who I'm talking about, I hope. These people who refuse to fix themselves, spend their time bitching about their problems and yet, won't take the steps to remedy the situation.
Anyone else? Am I being intolerant to people with problems??
Ah yes--- 26... that's about when it starts.
When you are in High School or college you have all kinds of friends... meet all kinds of people and the great thing about youth, about that environment is that the world looks to be equally full of promise for all.
Any of you could become anything, it seems. You imagine the future full of accomplishment for one and all.
But then the reality of real life begins to take its toll.
Life begins to separate you from other--- even your friends... to Stratify everyone into categories based upon ambition, ability, family support or connections...
By 26 it becomes apparant that not ALL the people you knoew will be equally successful, will be equally ambitious, or will equally receive the lucky breaks...
Its a hard time... you can not help friends who lack focus, drive or ability.
And, to a certain extent, if you are moving forward, and they are not, your trying to remain their freind is actually painful and demoralizing for them.
They come to resent your accomplishment- to resent your efforts to help...
Life will separate you from the people who seemed your peers in your teens.
You must look for new associations among people who are more like yourself... people who can feel your equal and with whom you can relate.
It is cruel- but it is true.
Do not judge those that seem not to measure up, because, chances are , there are people even more ambitious and resourceful than you who might judge you as well...
Rather... imagine a man with a cane and a bum leg... you would never think less of him for not being able to run a marathon...
In the same sense- those who can not achieve are similarly handicapped- but in ways that do not advertise themselves as does a physical disability.
Genetics and social circumstance result in a wide spectrum of human ability, talent and effort.
Get used to the fact that others are as they are... and have compassion for the suffering they endure in watching others do more.
They were born without the special circuit thru which you make sense of the world...
You could try and explain to them till you were blue in the face... but its like explaining color to a blind man.