Water vs. Fire

People love you because you flow like water. You’re fun to be around, people look to you for peace, you give them life, and you help where you can. All that, I can respect.

But just like water, when an obstacle crosses your path, you ripple and flex your way around it as if it isn’t there at all. When your path seems completely blocked, you hardly put up a fight. You’ll accept your limit, and continue doing what you can for others within your new confines.

Little do they know, for as peaceful as you are, you are not a force to be taken lightly. When you finally snap and lash out, your peers feel betrayed, shocked by your sudden change in tone, and for a while, may avoid you out of fear. So you retreat back to your previous self, and soon they will return, and the cycle will begin all over again.

I, however, am fire. I don’t put up with the slightest bit of mistreatment. I’m there to help and warm my peers who would treat me fairly, and consider my emotions. Those who can’t be bothered to care enough will be burned.

They know that; and so those who interact with me are a select few who truly care. Quality over quantity, right? Those who surround me know of my heat, and take all necessary precautions to avoid making me mad.

Of course, I have my bad days too. I lash out, destroy, rage over as far a distance as I can. When I finally calm down, it will continue to only be the most caring who approach me again. They may have felt my heat first-hand, but if they realize their mistake, they’ll change their behaviors to ensure it doesn’t happen again. They wouldn’t dare blame me for their carelessness.

People will throw rocks and garbage in your direction, and you will quietly take the abuse until you snap. Doing so with me may result in serious damage, and because of that, there are rules and guidelines made to treat me with respect.

While there are people who fight for your health, your cycle will never change. You will continue to be calm and emotionless in your maltreatment until you finally expode.

Yet the fact remains that the earth can’t go on without both of us. Our existence goes hand-in-hand. You bring life, and I bring warmth. You relax the people around you, and relieve their stress. I excite those who surround me, and inspire their imaginations.

It doesn’t make sense for us polar opposites to be at odds. Yes, somedays I’ll boil you to nothing, and some days you’ll drown me completely. But we both do our part, and we both deserve respect. While I occasionally forget your importance due to my hot temper, I can’t deny it when it’s pointed out to me.

So thank you, water. Thank you for your patience as my temper runs away with me yet again. We are both perfectly flawed, and we can help each other in these times. I’ll help you stand up against your abusers, and you can remind me that my temper is not always necessary. Hand in hand, we will both move forward.