I understand your point.

I have had some bad experiences allowing things to happen that I may have been able to stop. For instance, my friend certainly learned a lot by not being warned in advance about his mistake-to-be. But, he may have learned just as much by me stepping up and being the friend I wanted to be.

I don’t know think I feel comfortable deciding not to act because someone — in my mind — needs a learning experience. I would rather call out to the inattentive person to duck rather than have him learn by banging his head.

I many times come to the question, where do I step into a situation and where do I leave people to learn from their own experiences…sometimes I think it is less compassionate to interfere and take away their learning opportunity…
peace, daniel

Thanks for your comment. I’d really like to learn how you have been assertively kind.

It didn’t really feel gutsy at the moment. It just felt like the right thing to do. My previous bad experiences with not taking action have been sufficient teaching lessons (for the most part) that I am loath to be a bystander when I can make a difference.

Be well, Georgia.