Hard labor? or labor of love?

May 13, 2013

Acqu Terme, Italy

Here’s a news flash:

I don’t always like to drive.

Oh, I don’t mean a car.

I mean life.

As in always being the one in charge.Pulling the wagon.

The trouble is that I’m in charge by nature.

People expect me to drive.

And in a vacuum, I always take the wheel.

Here’s what I’m told:

“But, you’re so good at it!”

Yet, when that happens in a relationship

it feels like I’m dragging a wheelbarrow full of…

…baggage.

Mine and someone else’s.

Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not

particularly affirming to be the one in charge.

It always makes me wonder if I’m just filling a void

or if I’m forcing something unnatural.

It’s true, though, that people like me often attract lazy partners.

Partners with all the best intentions of working harder to take the wheel

but who just find it too difficult.

There’s a consequence, you know, when you let your partner

take the wheel too often.

When you act like it’s hard labor

to play your part.

Maybe they don’t realize

that people like me,

who seem like we like to lead,

always feel euphoric and joyful

when our partner

steps up…

…and when they begin to understand the difference between

hard labor and a labor of love.