THE STORY OF THE CRAB BUCKET:

ONCE A MAN WALKING ALONG THE BEACH SAW ANOTHER MAN FISHING IN THE SURF WITH A BAIT BUCKET BESIDE HIM. AS HE DREW CLOSER, HE SAW THAT THE BAIT BUCKET HAD NO LID AND HAD LIVE CRABS INSIDE.
"WHY DON'T YOU COVER YOUR BAIT BUCKET SO THE CRABS WON'T ESCAPE?" HE ASKED.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND," THE MAN REPLIED, "IF THERE IS ONE CRAB IN THE BUCKET IT WOULD SURELY CRAWL OUT VERY QUICKLY. HOWEVER, WHEN THERE ARE MANY CRABS IN THE BUCKET, IF ONE TRIES TO CRAWL UP THE SIDE, THE OTHERS GRAB HOLD OF IT AND PULL IT BACK DOWN SO THAT IT WILL SHARE THE SAME FATE AS THE REST OF THEM."
SO IT IS WITH PEOPLE. IF ONE TRIES TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, GET BETTER GRADES, IMPROVE HERSELF, ESCAPE HER ENVIRONMENT, OR DREAM BIG DREAMS, OTHER PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DRAG HER BACK DOWN TO SHARE THEIR FATE.
MORAL OF THE STORY: IGNORE THE CRABS. CHARGE AHEAD AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. IT MAY NOT BE EASY AND YOU MAY NOT SUCCEED AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE, BUT YOU WILL NEVER SHARE THE SAME FATE AS THOSE WHO NEVER TRY.

I love this place that I am in, in my life. I'm adjusting to being an empty nester (so to speak). I'm finally learning to live with myself by myself. However, I couldn't do it without all of the wonderful creative people I'm around. People that spend most of their time adding softness and style to everything they touch. People that are willing to share who they are and what they think.
I hope that your lives are spared of the crabs that wish to bring you down, but are full, by the angels hoping to build you up.