SHOULD I JUST LET THEM DIE?

Put the tissues away. I haven't let anyone die . . . yet.

Stuff happens to me. Right before my eyes when I'm minding my own business, running an errand, walking my dog, checking plants around the building. Right there, someone does something dangerous and I can't seem to shrug and walk away.

But should I?

A woman let her corgi run out of a building, without a leash on, then stood talking to someone while the pooch literally took off to the sidewalk (busy street), shot up several flights of stairs to the street behind the building, and trotted along the middle of the road.

Stella to the rescue. I chased that dog with my heart thumping and finally caught her about five minutes later. I was lucky, and so was she. But that's when trouble really started. The boss grabbed the dog's collar from me (visualize S-the-tall bent double to tow the little one) as if I was trying to abduct her pet. She was probably frightened she'd lost the corgi or that it had been hurt, but she got nasty.

Then, oh dear, I got nasty and told her off as if she were a particularly stupid eight-year-old. Shouldn't have done that but couldn't seem to stop after she gave me the mean-eye.

One day recently I was having my nails hacked off and the door of the salon stood open. Warm day. I hate having anything like that done so I gaze around and forget to move my hands or respond to the cues that tell me what I should do next.

That day I got involved watching three children of maybe 5 to 7 run around the parking lot outside. A truck pulled in and had to screech to a stop to miss one of the kids. They continued their game as if nothing had happened and when the girl headed into the path of an oncoming car, I levitated. (Pity the nail person.)

After tracking these kids, who were only playing, I know, into a shop where their moms were engrossed in shopping, I said, with a smile this time, "The children are in danger in the parking lot."
This time I got smiles back and the children were told to stay in the shop.

Late at night, walking my dog again, I felt another presence in the dark. I jumped and turned around to see an old man standing by a tree trunk, just standing there looking lost. He was lost, and probably suffering from Alzheimer's. I didn't know what to do. It scared me to approach him, and horrified me to think of just leaving him like that. Soooo, naturally, I picked up my fierce 6lb dog for protection and went back to see if I could help.

Let's shorten this. I called the police and they were able to find identification on the man. He was a sweet guy and so confused. The cops told me they thought they'd dealt with him before and took him off in their car.

First, I have no idea why I have this urge to save everyone and everything, regardless of whether they want to be saved. That said, what do you do in these situations? Do you carry on, worry a bit, but not take on another person's issue? Or do you try to help?

I'm setting everyone free to give me advice:)

Cheers, Stella