Killing the Elephant
Yesterday, I took a chance and reached out to someone. I did this despite the constant negative feedback I received when the initial thought to do so entered my mind. I was told not to do so. I was told that doing so had the possibility of ending horribly. I was told this several times over a lengthy period of time.
But yesterday I had had enough. Yesterday I decided that, no matter what happened, I wanted the elephant in the room to gotten rid of. I did not care if I were to get crushed in the process, that elephant was going to be euthanized one way or another. If I had to go down, than so be it. I was going to take that son-of-a-bitch down with me. I am no stranger to sacrifice.
I felt oddly calm and unafraid as I prepared for this battle. I had no idea how it would end and that didn't matter. It would be over. Simple as that. That was all I cared about.
It started out with a warning: I was going to put down this elephant once and for all. The other concerned parties felt uncomfortable and uncertain about it. However, they quickly realized that I was no longer taking "No", "Wait" or "Let me fix it" for an answer. Their choices were severely limited at this point. Frankly, it was only because I had respect for them that they had any choice in the matter at all.
It was followed with a message: The message was well thought out and versed to show I was completely sincere. The fact that I was not to blame for the elephant being there in the first place was no longer an issue. Sometimes the mistakes we make are bigger then we are. Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed and don't know what to do, but we really don't want to admit it. Sometimes we just need help whether we like it or not. We are not perfect. We are human. It happens to the best of us. And when it does, that is when it is time for another to step in. This elephant was no longer welcome. It had to go. End of story. I drew first blood. My aim was steady and the wound cut deep. In through one side, out through the other. My breath stayed calm as I mentally prepared myself for what was to come.
Messages upon messages: They flew between us, each one hitting their mark and slicing right through to the other side.. Communication being the weapon of choice against this massive beast. The bulk of the onslaught was fleeting and merciless. Much to the surprise of us all, the elephant was nowhere near as strong as we had anticipated. It's front legs collapsed from the first attack. The impact of our joined efforts brought the beast down in a swift manner as we grew more certain of ourselves and one another. There was a sickening sound as the mammoth animal seemed to all but crumble before our eyes. Soon, nothing remained but the residual memory how it weighed on our shoulders. The room was once more open. We were able to maneuver freely once again. The tenseness of the weeks before dissipating slowly. We had conquered it together. All that was left was to clean up the aftermath and rebuild.
The worst part was over. We all shared a common desire and that was to move forward. Now that the beast was removed, we could do so.
It is very rare I do something like this... Lead the way into the proverbial battle. Normally I wait for others make the move. Normally I await the word of the strongest person and pay strict attention to the strategy provided when that word comes. However, for some reason, the strongest person in this particular instance somehow ended up to be me.
The one who has always made a point to avoid conflict.
The Mouse of the group.
Perhaps I am being presumptuous but it seems that being so steadfast has finally paid off.
~pauses for a moment~
A mouse led the way....
There is something almost poetic about that.
But yesterday I had had enough. Yesterday I decided that, no matter what happened, I wanted the elephant in the room to gotten rid of. I did not care if I were to get crushed in the process, that elephant was going to be euthanized one way or another. If I had to go down, than so be it. I was going to take that son-of-a-bitch down with me. I am no stranger to sacrifice.
I felt oddly calm and unafraid as I prepared for this battle. I had no idea how it would end and that didn't matter. It would be over. Simple as that. That was all I cared about.
It started out with a warning: I was going to put down this elephant once and for all. The other concerned parties felt uncomfortable and uncertain about it. However, they quickly realized that I was no longer taking "No", "Wait" or "Let me fix it" for an answer. Their choices were severely limited at this point. Frankly, it was only because I had respect for them that they had any choice in the matter at all.
It was followed with a message: The message was well thought out and versed to show I was completely sincere. The fact that I was not to blame for the elephant being there in the first place was no longer an issue. Sometimes the mistakes we make are bigger then we are. Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed and don't know what to do, but we really don't want to admit it. Sometimes we just need help whether we like it or not. We are not perfect. We are human. It happens to the best of us. And when it does, that is when it is time for another to step in. This elephant was no longer welcome. It had to go. End of story. I drew first blood. My aim was steady and the wound cut deep. In through one side, out through the other. My breath stayed calm as I mentally prepared myself for what was to come.
Messages upon messages: They flew between us, each one hitting their mark and slicing right through to the other side.. Communication being the weapon of choice against this massive beast. The bulk of the onslaught was fleeting and merciless. Much to the surprise of us all, the elephant was nowhere near as strong as we had anticipated. It's front legs collapsed from the first attack. The impact of our joined efforts brought the beast down in a swift manner as we grew more certain of ourselves and one another. There was a sickening sound as the mammoth animal seemed to all but crumble before our eyes. Soon, nothing remained but the residual memory how it weighed on our shoulders. The room was once more open. We were able to maneuver freely once again. The tenseness of the weeks before dissipating slowly. We had conquered it together. All that was left was to clean up the aftermath and rebuild.
The worst part was over. We all shared a common desire and that was to move forward. Now that the beast was removed, we could do so.
It is very rare I do something like this... Lead the way into the proverbial battle. Normally I wait for others make the move. Normally I await the word of the strongest person and pay strict attention to the strategy provided when that word comes. However, for some reason, the strongest person in this particular instance somehow ended up to be me.
The one who has always made a point to avoid conflict.
The Mouse of the group.
Perhaps I am being presumptuous but it seems that being so steadfast has finally paid off.
~pauses for a moment~
A mouse led the way....
There is something almost poetic about that.