The Crab Bucket Syndrome

What a fabulous day yesterday with my grand kids. With no other adults around, and with the range of things that we did, I loved seeing the day through the eyes of children; and being “silly” at times also. I’m so grateful that the journey I’m on allowed me to have a day like that.
Have great weather this long weekend in the Toronto area, an anomaly this summer. Golf was spectacular this morning. Just returned from dinner with one of my closest “journey” friends, who also can be one of my harshest critics- a quality I love because of the spirit of his remarks. He reads these articles, so I asked him what I should write about.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared with him something someone had shared with me about crab buckets. Crab buckets are not an item I give a lot of thought to normally, but did when I heard the term, and once again did when Dave reminded me.
I was told that when crabs are put into a bucket (bait for fishing I assume); they will climb over each other in an attempt to regain freedom. As a crab approaches the top of the bucket and the achievement of its goal, its peers will drag it back into the mass.
I think of this as the crab bucket syndrome.
I know their have been times in my life where I have been jealous of another’s success, and have, in my own fashion, done something to pull them back with the rest of us mere mortals.
On the flip side, I’ve certainly felt the crab bucket syndrome as I’ve climbed out of my own bucket, and witnessed it in varying degrees thousands of times.
Why do people sabotage the success of others? Could it be a self-esteem issue within them?
The crab in the case above has a goal; to climb out of the mass and regain freedom. In the position the crab is in, it is a very immediate and lofty goal. If the crabs worked together, one or more of their fellows would achieve freedom, and all would share in the success.
Unfortunately, people seem to behave in the same manner on a more frequent basis than we would like to see.
On a daily basis I ask for help to reach my own goals, and love to help be a part of others success.
The work done over the time of the journey has given improvement in this area; likely not perfection, but man it feels good to be part of success, even if by association.
On a daily basis, may we be free of the “Crab Bucket Syndrome”.
Weather looks like it will be great all weekend. May I be of use to others and enjoy two more walks this weekend in a beautiful park, and hit the odd good shot as a bonus.