Executive Dysfunction
A hiker rescues a lost hiker and begins to lead them back through the woods across the quickest path. When they face a huge mountain, the lost hiker realizes that their rescuer is equipped with solid boots, thick pants and a warm jacket, along with extensive mountaineering equipment in a climbing pack on their back. They themselves are only wearing a light jacket, casual shoes, and jeans.
“Here’s the mountain!” their rescuer says. “Let’s start climbing!”
The lost hiker looks at them. “Are you crazy?! I can’t climb this!”
“Sure you can!” the their rescuer says. “It’s easy! I’ve done it, so can you!”
“But you have all this equipment,” the lost hiker says. “I don’t. There’s no way I can get up there without it.”
“Why don’t you go get equipment then?” their rescuer asks.
“It’s very expensive!” the lost hiker says. “And my car is on the other side of the mountain!”
“You’re just being lazy!” their rescuer replies. “I’ve conquered harder mountains in my sleep!”
“But I don’t have the equipment!” the lost hiker repeats. “I don’t even know where to start!”
“Just start anywhere!”
So the second hiker tries to climb up.
“No, no, no, you’re doing it wrong!” their rescuer says. “Use your rope!”
“But I don’t have a rope!”
“You’re just making excuses,” their rescuer argues, rolling their eyes, continuing up the cliff side.
The lost hiker grows winded at ten feet up and stops to take a break.
“You’ll never get up at that rate!” their rescuer says.
“But I’m exhausted!” the lost hiker replies. “You’ve done this more than me!”
“So just keep going then! You’re just being lazy!”
The lost hiker watches their rescuer continue to climb, up, up up…and wonders why they even tried in the first place.
