Ever since I can remember I’ve been as stubborn as can be, and blessed with a good dose of creativity. As a child, young adult, and even now to some extent, I have really, really struggled to ask for help.
That’s where the “can’t” comes in.
The more difficult something is for me to do, the more determined I am to do it, without help. And it isn’t just about physical things, but also those more intellectual conundrums.
Did you know, if you’re around 13 years old, and you need to (OK, want to) get a large wooden chest from your bedroom to the courtyard, you can. Simply manhandle, childhandle, the chest onto the rug from the passage and it can easily be slid along the tiled floors. The stairs are the only tricky part, and that’s because mom wants to know what’s going on with all the thumping.
More recently I should ask for help more often for the physical stuff. And yet, I still find that mostly I can’t, or at least I don’t. This causes frustrations for me, a husband who lectures me, and an assortment of injuries.
I’m learning though, slowly, painfully, but surely.
Asking for help does not have to be difficult. Start with the obvious stuff and build on that. I once sat struggling with something at work for a day and a half before finally breaking down. Turned out there was no problem, only someone who thought I’d find it tricky and I wasted all that time looking for tricky.
It still doesn’t come easy to me. I’m wondering about you – can you ask for help when it’s the right thing to do?