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The Crab Effect

“The Crab Effect” is a phenomenon observed in nature. The story is that once upon a time, a fisherman was out on the dock and noticed the behaviors of crabs in a bucket. When one crab would try to escape, the others would grab it and pull it back down. Now, if there was only one crab in the bucket, it could escape with no problem. However, as a collective group, there is no getting out. They all work to keep each other in the bucket. If crabs could just help each other get up to the top and then turn around and help each one get up, they could all escape. Instead, they fester in a bucket until eventually they become fish bait. Weird, right? Yes. And, no.

I don’t want to be in a bucket of crabs. I am blessed to have a strong, supportive, different type of bucket. It has taken me a long time to build a network of crabby pushers rather than pullers, but the majority of my crab partners have broken free from the bucket and are now free! My goal now is to reach into the bucket and help others escape from the daily harsh realities that exist at the bottom of the bucket.

Too many people will tell you that you are stuck. You have to go to work. You have to clean your house. You have to get somewhere on time. You have to volunteer. You have to go back to school. To these people, I say “NO! No you do not!” You might need an income, but that does not mean you have to sacrifice your dreams. You may choose to work so that you can pay for your groceries, but if you don’t go to work tomorrow, the sun will still rise. You do not “have” to work. You choose to work because your desire and need for income outweigh you choice for unemployment. If you don’t like your job or your work environment, get a new job! Meanwhile, be thankful for the job that you do have and do it to the best of your ability. Otherwise, you should just stay home. You are not doing yourself or anyone else any good. You also don’t have to clean your house. Nope. And, you don’t have to do the laundry. Or the dishes. But, if you choose to clean your house, you earn a clean, sanitized environment for your family. If you choose to do the laundry, you’ll have clean clothes. If you choose to do the dishes, the smell will go away. But, you do not have to do them right this second. That is your choice! Did you hear that? Your choice!

As I continue to work on my own self, and to find my beach, I pray that I can help others find their way out of the bucket. Do not let the walls confine you or other crabs drag you down. If your bucket isn’t helping you or, at the very least cheering you on, find a new bucket. You are the boss of your life and your thoughts. You do not HAVE to do anything- but breathe. Everything else can wait- or not. You decide.

As you take ownership over your own destiny, think about whether you are a pusher or a puller. Are you genuinely happy for others who are escaping, and are you helping to push them out? Are you just sitting at the bottom of the bucket? If so, quit complaining. Doing nothing is also a choice. At the very least, you owe it to yourself to not be a puller downer. Don’t be a crab puller. PUSH.

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