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Learning from Friends and Sea Lions
I recently broke my toe and although it is a bit of an inconvenience, I appreciate the lesson it has taught me (besides to watch where I am walking). My friend who convinced me to take him up on his offer to care for me the day this happened said, “People are not meant to live life alone.” When I finally gave in and accepted help, it was great to have a friend with me to lean on – literally and figuratively.
Many of us, myself included, are so used to just taking care of everything that we do not think to ask for help and even turn it down when it is offered. Just because we may be able to do it all alone, doesn’t mean we should.
Yet again, nature has been demonstrating this lesson for me on a daily basis, but I had not taken it in until just now. Geese fly in formation to take advantage of the lift they get from each other; sea lions hang all over each other for warmth and comfort; killer whales hunt in groups to improve their outcomes; emperor penguins gather to protect each other from the harsh environment…and so on.
Humans, especially women, have become more and more self-reliant over time while other animals have stayed true to the patterns that have been successful for them for centuries. I am not implying that we as humans should not change and evolve, but perhaps we should pause occasionally to ensure the changes we are making really are an improvement.
Go ahead – ask for help. You will be surprised at how great it feels to receive it and the other person will also get a boost from being able to give.
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I have a hard time asking for help sometimes too. It isn’t easy to give up “control”.
Lori – Agreed – it sometimes seems easier to do it all ourselves but I am learning how much more vibrant life can be with the dance of give and take.
Thanks so much for sharing this!
Robyn – You are welcome! Thank you for reading and commenting!
What a great message! I also have trouble asking for help sometimes, but every time I DO ask for help I’m so glad I did!
Jesi – Thanks for your comment. Next time you are thinking of not asking for help, maybe picture the sea lions
Bravo! Yes it is OK to ask for help … esentially that is the purpose of existance as some would suggest … to help others is to help ourselves. Four hands gets more done than two
Anna, Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
I am lucky that the people I most ask for help are my immediate family. And neighbors. Oh, and strangers, sometimes!
Marsha,
It sounds like you have a broad group of people you do ask for help – GOOD FOR YOU!!! Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and hope to see you here again soon!
Karen
Even works across mammal species like dolphins and sperm whales. Pretty amazing: http://goo.gl/5DlLT
Here a dolphin asks for help from divers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21176914