When problem stories have been around for a long time, they can become very influential, even convincing us that they represent who we are as human beings. In those moments, throwing in the towel can seem to be the only option. Hopelessness can take over, paralyzing us from moving forward. In fact, people are never the problem, the problem is the problem. The stories of our lives are a community effort in every case. There are no exceptions. Our sense of self, how we see ourselves in the world is constructed by the culture in which we live, and culture is deeply implicated in the problems people face.