We all need help

I got an interesting forwarded email, which is special that I even bothered reading it I usually hate forwards, but I sat and read through the simple little story. It is about a wealthy man drying off his car after washing it. A bum walked by and sat down and watched the man. After a moment the wealthier man asked if the bum needed help and he responded with, 'don't we all?'

I have found over the years that I have surrounded myself with extremely strong female friends. Those who are not independent and strong, do not seem to hang around long. It has nothing to do with their personal failings, I just like to be around woman who are much like myself. Each one of my close friends has her own unique personality, aura, style, zest for life, and and the ability to be graceful under pressure. She has strengths and weakness that are all her own but some how we seem to mesh well, complimenting each other. Each one of these ladies handles life's pressures differently, some bottle it up, some cry it out, some get angry, some eat, and some just want to talk until they turn blue. None that I know, that I love, are willing to take life lying down. They each have a passion and a curiosity that brings a certain vibrancy to them that is always fun to be around.

Over the years I have seen how many of my friends struggle with the simple words, I need help. I know that a lot people think I am stubborn, which I am not, but I will admit to being strong willed and very independent. I have found over the years that if you rely to much on any one person they will always fail you in some way. I bet you are thinking...wow that is kind of jaded and cynical, but in my world that is the honest truth. I will admit the only person to truly never fail me is my best friend. She is the only person who has kept me above water more consistently than anyone else. Now I am not saying that my friends are failures, because they are not. I have just learned through the pain of life, that dependence is never good. I struggle with asking for help and an even bigger problem with accepting the help that is so kindly offered to me. I recognize this weakness in me, no need to point it out.... ;) I recognize the good in people, the desire to help, but I just cannot bring myself to accept it. I also recognize that by denying them the chance to help me, I am stopping a piece of their personal growth and not allowing them blessings in their lives.

I am not sure why such a simple phrase is so hard to utter but I know that I am going to try, now notice I said TRY, to accept help more and to ask for it more. I hope that my friends, the ones that are stronger then they need to be, will join in the effort. We need to learn that asking for help is not a failure and it is not a weakness. We just need to remember everyone needs help once in awhile. So deep breath ladies....lets learn to ask each other for help...and when asked if we need help...take it.

Together we can only lift each other higher and become stronger.

It all starts with a simple phrase, I need help.