You don’t always have to go it alone
You don’t always have to go it alone
Ask for help.
Hello friends,
Have you ever heard a two-year-old proudly proclaim, “I do it myself!”
We encourage defiant independence and praise our children when they dare to try new things, to do it themselves. Our culture extols individual accomplishments and finding our way in the world.
I wondered this week about the wisdom of this philosophy when I struggled to design a pattern for a simple snuggle sack for a guinea pig. With a little better than mediocre sewing ability, I measured, created paper patterns, consulted with the guinea pig’s owner, and worried.
Would the end product meet the vision of the owner? Was the sack too small? Too large? The right shape? Did we have the correct materials? What was the best method to assemble the pieces and sew them together?
I consulted YouTube videos while second-guessing my approach to making a simple bag. My mind ran on a loop of, “I do it myself!”
Finally, I realized doing it myself took more energy and emotional strength than this simple project deserved. Relenting, I clicked the link in the video and bought the pattern.
The decision yielded a win-win. I stopped angsting over the method and possible results. The young entrepreneur who loves guinea pigs and making all sorts of guinea pig paraphernalia gained a sale.
The outcome of asking for help or storming my way alone had few if any, negative consequences. That’s not always the case.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or lack of character. Seeking support takes courage. The courage to admit we don’t have all the answers. We aren’t shirking our responsibilities, but asking for insight, ideas, how-to, or an extra hand can build our confidence and capabilities.
I asked for help. Now, I will do my best to construct an outstanding and well-loved guinea pig sack. Wish me luck!
One more time, I had to take the unbarred view to expand my perspective.
Michele L. Sullivan speaks knowingly about how asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
Songs to remind us that we can ask for help—but we can also offer help: “Count on Me,” “I’ll Be There For You,” and “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
"Life provides ample opportunity to test our mettle. When circumstances call for it, let's give ourselves a break and ask for help."
— Gina Greenlee
"The only shoes you can walk in are your own. With compassion, courage and understanding, we can walk together, side by side.”
—Michele L. Sullivan
Find a little wonder this week, and if you need to, don’t hesitate to ask for a little help.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
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