Day 664
Last night, along with the onset of Daylight Savings Time, Mac was awakened by Miss Lilly before dawn. She started with her Mama, but after a few scratches behind the ear, decided she had to go higher up the ladder. Evidently, she was more insistent with her father, so Mac got up, opened the bedroom door and watched Miss Lilly fly down the stairs! By the time he made the descent to the main floor, she was waiting by back door. Poor baby... Lilly AND Mr. Mac!
Although she seems to be improving, we are keeping a close eye on that girl. The amazing part is the fact that she needed help and asked someone! She humbles me...
Asking for help is not my strong suit. Most often, I try to move forward without asking for assistance. Mostly, these endeavors end successfully, but sometimes...not much. If I had a nickel for every time someone said, "Why didn't you ask me for help?", I could buy a cup of coffee or two! Lilly asked for help and it was the right thing to do. Why is it so hard for me to follow suit?
Upon further self-questioning, I came up with the reason...I don't like to be a burden. Although a good reason, it is wrong on so many levels.
*Wasted attempt...wasted time
*Frustration at my inability to fix it
*The voice in my head tells me I failed again
*Possible injury to less-than-graceful me
*Robbing someone of a chance to help and feel valued
*Overrating the quality of independence
A number of years ago, I needed a new bedframe. Once purchased, I had no way to pick it up or haul it up the stairs. Asking a friend for help was hard, but he came, picked up the bed and then, insisted he put the frame together! What a wonderful gift from an amazing guy!
We also have a wonderful man who plows our driveway and simply asks us to Pay-it-forward...another gem of a human being! Yet another dear friend helped us buy a pontoon and then delivered it to our cottage! Still, it is hard to ask...
The next time I am faced with a challenge, I am going to TRY to ask for help. Perhaps, if I tell myself it makes the helper feel good, I will be fine. Until then, I will try to refrain from climbing ladders, carrying volumes of heavy boxes or visiting any roofs that need fixing. It will be a work-in progress...but isn't that the definition of life?
