In love triangles, few can transcend the love-hate relationship. Most adhere to the very principle of "not being the first to go." Caring parents come to their beloved children’s rescue whenever challenges ruthlessly wield their destructive power over the latter. Employees with the intention of quitting their jobs yield to the fact of life. For those who have close relatives in critical condition, pressing the life-ending button numbs their fingers.


Knowing when to step out conveys not so much withdrawal as swallow. Life prompts us to make relucant decisions, often before we have time enough to think and act. A timely step backward means not utter indifference, but a willingness to "outside" ourselves from the inner struggle, to swallow the bitterness of life.


Step out when step-ins run out. "Outs" complete the imcomplteness of "ins." When "outs" are "in," everything is out.