Broken Tool

I remember when I was in my mid to late 20's. I didn't know shit about shit (but I thought I knew everything). I had in a kitchen drawer: a hammer, a screwdriver, a pair of scissors and somewhere (I'm certain) I had a knife.

I remember I needed to fix something in my house, desperately. It required a screwdriver. No problem, I had one in my kitchen. Well, the fuckin' handle was broken off.

I tried to adapt and use the scissors but they were cheap and inefficient.

The hammer wasn't appropriate. I preferred using the hammer for smashing things into pieces.

Well, somehow (eventually) I fixed whatever needed to be fixed and I have learned since to simply have more tools READILY available so that when I need to fix something, I'm covered.

Tonight I realized that I am the only tool in a friend's drawer. The problem is... ...tonight I'm broken.

She can't use her hammer because everything is already smashed.

She can't use her scissors because the two blades don't come together properly.

Her knife has only one function.

A broken tool serves no purpose.

I wish she had more tools.

 

The right tool for the right job is ideal to get the job done quickly, but often being able to improvise using other tools can get the job done as well. It's a good skill to have.

Also, I can't remember who said it, but someone once said "If all you know how to use is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail."

 

I'm sure your not broken, it sounds like she just put too much on you. Probably without realizing it or meaning to cause you any pain, she just needs to find a way to use different tools.
But please don't think it's your fault or that your broken. Your not and she if she's any kind of friend wouldn't want you to feel that way either. Your a good and caring person OD don't forget that.

 

OD-
You are such a kind hearted person.
You always want to help other people, and that is such a beautiful quality to have-
BUT- You can not save everyone. You can not allow someone who is in need of help, make you feel so terrible that you beat yourself up.
You are not some broken tool in your friends drawer......And your friend should be smart not to depend on one tool to be the all in one fix it tool. (Not saying she is, but just saying) -
It is a positive thing to be compassionate and generous and understanding, as you are- But it is not a positive to beat yourself up b/c you can not save someone.
Doing this will only wear you down and make it that much harder to help someone else......and help yourself in the future!