“Help” is Not a Four Letter Word

Life is beautiful.  But it can feel hard at times.  And when it does, we struggle.  Often alone, and for long.  Until our good energy has been drained.  Until precious moments have passed.  And until the clock can no longer be turned back.  Because we were too independent.  Too proud.  Or too ashamed to get help.

But if we want to be happy, it is important to recognize that we all need help sometimes.  And to get it when we need it.  Because it is the smart and responsible thing to do.  Here’s why.

On my own.

You know how we all want to get healthy?  We feel like we should work out, shed a few pounds, get our heart rates up, and our BMIs down?  Well, I do too.  So I go to the gym whenever I can muster the resolve to exercise.  And I always take my music with me.

Music helps me.  When I’m sluggish, it keeps me on track.  When I’m tired, it energizes me.  When I’m energetic, it pushes me further.  And when I feel like I can’t go any longer, it helps me see that I can.  It is my crutch; and without it, I falter.  Like I did one day last week.

I was warming up when I noticed that the power on my i-pod was low.  I hurried through my workout hoping that it wouldn’t run out.  But it did.  Mid exercise, my i-pod died.   And I had to finish my workout in silence.  On my own.

Life is like a workout.

I did finish.  But it was hard.  I struggled.  Each movement seemed harder.  The time went by slower.  And my workout felt less “good” than it usually did.  That’s what life sometimes feels like to me – like getting a workout.

When I’m at the gym, my goal is to have a good workout.  And my music “helps” me do that.   I’m not too independent, too proud, or too ashamed to listen to music.  It doesn’t mean I’m weak.  It means that I’m taking charge of my physical well-being.  And giving myself what I need to ensure that I have a good workout.

I treat life like that too.  My goal is to be happy.  So I give myself all the help I need to do that.  Through meditation, therapy, books, loved ones, anything.  I’m not too independent, too proud, or too ashamed.  It doesn’t mean I’m weak.  It means that I am taking charge of my emotional well-being.  And giving myself what I need to ensure that I am as happy as I can be.

Does it matter?

Forsaking help doesn’t make me stronger.  It gives me a less-than-ideal outcome.  And the only person who loses is me.

In the end, if I have a good workout, does it matter why I did?  And if I am happy, does it matter that I got help?  It’s your life.  Yours.   So be in charge of it.  And get the help you need to live a good one.

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