I don't know if I necessarily like the title Fixer. I've never really thought that I was trying to "fix" someone but more so assisting them in becoming the best version of themselves that they can possibly be. For the sake of this article, though, we'll go with Fixer. Us Fixers are a special breed. We're lovers and we choose to see the best in people, even when it's a bit of a stretch.. and we realize that. We've probably claimed or been told thousands of times that we're "attracted to assholes" or that we're "pushovers," when in actuality, we see someone struggling, whether they've acknowledged that they are or not, and we automatically gravitate towards them, and there's really nothing wrong with that aspect of it. At least, I don't think so. The world needs people like us.

However, there's a huge downfall that sometimes comes along with being a Fixer: you never know when to give up. As heartbreaking as it can be, there are just some people that aren't willing to change their destructive ways and there's only so much that you can do. The toughest part is that we tend to hold on to every ounce of hope for as long as possible and, as a result, give way more chances than some people probably deserve. This takes a huge toll on people. When you continue to give people chance after chance, they start to realize that no matter what they do, you'll forgive them so they think it's okay to walk all over you and that's not healthy for any of the parties involved. It begins to turn into a broken record scenario. They promised they've changed their ways, you put your energy into helping them maintain their goals, and then it happens all over again, and to be completely honest, it's exhausting.

I think we're all grateful to have the traits of a Fixer, being a nurturer, seeing the best in people, and never wanting to give up is so beneficial in so many aspects of life, but developing the ability to determine when enough is enough is absolutely vital. Sometimes the best way to show someone you care about them is to give them time to figure things out on their own. It's great to be there as a shoulder to lean on, especially in terms of relationships, it's obviously necessary, but dedicating all of your time and energy to improve the well-being of someone else isn't the best way to go about it, particularly when they don't show proper appreciation. It's not a crime to put yourself first.