Crutches

Just this past week I sprained my ankle while running outside (stupid I know) and per doctors orders hobbled around on crutches for five days. When my last day using those godforsaken pieces of wood came around I got to thinking about how much I relied on those crutches to move me from point A to point B and how, because I had to rely on such a crutch I also had to rely on the patience and goodwill of others. Being hurt not only slowed me down, but it took its toll on those left to care for me as well. A physical pain is a lot like an emotional pain. And crutches can take many forms. We all have a crutch. Someone or something we rely on to make it through our day. Do we ever outgrow these enablers? Do we ever really learn to walk on our own? Or over time does our crutch simply turn into a cane, supporting us in our old age -leaving us without the ability to ever stand on our own two feet?