"You are NOT Captain-Save-A-Hoe!"

This post will either gain me some readers or cost me some readers. In either case I think it needs to be said. This particular post I’m directing to both my male and female friends and readers.

Ladies and Gentlemen raise your right hand and repeat after me, “I… AM NOT… CAPTAIN SAVE A HOE!”

Ladies and gentlemen, we both are consequently guilty of falling consistently for the wounded bird syndrome. We meet people who have gotten themselves into some form of disaster or another. They are lovely, good looking, people who consistently seem to need bailing out of one disaster or another. In exchange for your assistance, they promise eternal love and affection but only so long as you keep dumping money or time or energy into supporting them.

Both genders are guilty of falling for the scam; both genders are guilty of perpetuating the scam. And both of our genders need to garner our self-respect and stand up to the wounded doves. We need to stand strong and say “I AM NOT CAPTAIN SAVE A HOE!”

Ladies and Gentlemen, the next time you find yourselves single and alone, you WILL find yourself getting called by someone you know. You WILL find yourself meeting someone and you WILL find yourself tempted by a wounded bird.

We all know the scenario. We find someone who has run out of money and is about to lose their house (for the fourth or fifth time). We find someone who has spent all their money frivolously and can’t get Christmas or Birthday presents for their own kids. We find someone who has no groceries to feed themselves or their kids. They got beat up by their ex (again) and they desperately need to crash at your house (preferably in your bed with you) and they desperately need your finances to keep themselves afloat.

So we ride into the rescue shouting "I WILL SAVE YOU!"

These “professional victims” for lack of better terms KNOW that we can and will ride to their rescue. We will pull out all the stops, sell all our worldly goods, and skip on time with all our most important people to cater to and attempt to heal our wounded creature. We think that in doing so, as so many horrible romance movies have tried to teach us, that they will be grateful for our love and want to stay with us. Instead, they are little more than parasites.

Once they bleed you dry of your time, your money, your resources, your energy, your mental resolve, and you finally reach a point where you have nothing left to give. You are a dried out husk and suddenly you realize that they are now looking for someone new to save them.

We all know why we do it, why we always rush to the rescue. Many of us are on a constant search for love and hope and the chance for a future. We grow up with the belief that kindness is key and truth be told IT IS! But we need to pick and choose carefully who we give to and how much.

Guard your hearts but given to those who truly are in need and learn to discern who those people are. Be strong and confident in who you are and recognize that you cannot buy affection from anyone. Don’t let anyone drain you of life.

YOU! YES YOU! YOU ARE NOT CAPTAIN SAVE A HOE!