Control

I got a bit annoyed at work today.  This is my usual state of being when at work, mostly because I am a control freak who isn't allowed to exert control.
Today's lesson in being patient and letting go came from a co-worker who was having problems printing off copies of items from our web page.  I needed these to be included with a bid I am preparing to send out, but there are still two more days to do the printing so it's not a huge hurry.  Our boss, on the other hand, wanted these done NOW so they would be done.
A little background first; I have been playing with computers since 1976.  I taught myself how to program in BASIC, have since forgotten most of it, and have actually been paid to do technical support for at least 5 years of my life (internet tech support over the phone and through email.)  I'm not afraid of new technology and I'm not afraid to try things to see if I can figure out how it works or how to make it work if it's not working.
So, when co-worker couldn't get the pages to print properly, she immediately called our PC support group.  She had been printing screenshots and emails from other programs, so she wasn't having a problem with her connection to the printer.  She had been printing other items from other web sites all day.  She never shuts down her computer, ever, so I suggested maybe she do that first to see if that helps. (RAM might have needed a short break.)  It didn't, so she called the PC Helpdesk and essentially took herself out of the work queue so she could fix the problem with her computer.

Any attempts I made to help were rebuffed or redirected by our Supervisor.  She wanted me to "butt out", even though it was directly affecting my project and threatening my sanity listening to the technophobe blaming the new dual monitor system, her computer and everything else under the sun but the actual culprit.

Long story short, there's a problem with our website that's been on-going for over a year, and after an hour or two of co-worker doing all sorts of stuff to try and fix it, I finally remember this and mention it to co-worker, who then has the AHA! face and says Oh yeah, I remember that from last year! 

Control.  That's the point of all this.
I recognize my need to "be helpful" is just another way I can exert control over parts of my life.  This lack of printing directly affected a project I was working on, but rather than let my co-worker do her thing, even if it was the WRONG thing, I stopped my work and got involved in it.  Just trying to be "helpful". 
I am too often trying to be "helpful" and not often enough just keeping my head down and letting people learn on their own how to fix things.  I'm not letting them grow or acquire trouble-shooting skills of their own.  And it's driving me right up the wall because I know the answers and the teacher isn't CALLING ON ME!
It's amazing how quickly I turn into a 6 year old version of Hermione Grainger.  I want to be in control of the situation and be recognized for being a smart, clever girl and get a cookie and a pat on the back. 
Where I need to exercise control is in my own head.  I need to control the urge to be "helpful" and just let things go.  I need to be patient and learn to go with the flow and do the things in my own circle instead of getting up into everyone else's.