A little theft

When we rescue someone who needs to learn to rescue themselves, we enact a little theft. We take from them the opportunity to learn, grow and become self-reliant and responsible.

The theft might make us feel good, as rescuing so often does. We might feel we have meaning and purpose. The act feeds something broken in us. Something that wants to be loved and considered kindly, a common and normal human wanting, yet more often than not sought through immature means, like rescuing, or an endless drama cycle.

It is the same with teaching. To teach is not to do it for the student, but to allow them to learn the lesson. A great teacher creates the context for the lesson to be learned well, and through effort on behalf of the student. 

In leadership, it is easier to tell, rather than ask. Asking, teaching, and coaching take longer in the beginning. But when we coach, or teach and ask, the student has to think, has to make mistakes, has to learn to consider all the many consequences of their choices. 

Each time we prevent the person from learning, thinking, considering consequences, even with young children, we are enacting a little theft. We take from them the future opportunity to be responsible, self-reliant, and to develop consequential thinking, so we might feel good or better or smarter today.

We need to learn to stop stealing from others futures to feed our own now. 

H/T inspired by Michelle Seegers

Published August 4th 2026. Photo taken August 4th 2026