Remember Stretch Armstrong? He was a little muscle man whose appendages could be stretched to great lengths when pulled. Often the best strategy was to team up with a friend and each take a side. It was fun to see just how far you could stretch him, watching his body morph, and laughing as his short shorts got even smaller. The thing is, Stretch was a toy made of rubber, designed to be manipulated. Have you ever felt like Stretch? I know I have. Placed in the middle of something and pulled in both directions at once. The difference is that people aren’t made to endure such stretching, and inevitably it causes us to break, literally, figuratively, or both. The middle isn’t usually a fun place to be: the middle seat, middle child, monkey in the middle. Caught between people you care about, you feel helpless, conflicted, stressed, and often hurt. You want nothing more than to get out, but it’s usually impossible. Remember that feeling the next time you’re on the other side, remember that humans are not made of stretchable rubber.
