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It’s Okay to Accept Help

January 11th, 2019

Photo Credit: Photographer

Yesterday I cried. I cried for reasons I can name and reasons I cannot.

I skipped the gym for the first time in six weeks. I went back and forth in my head deciphering weather I was skipping because I was feeling depressed or because I was sick. I spent the morning at work sitting in on a committee that makes decisions about students getting let back into the University or not. I talked with a friend at lunch about an intensive family situation dealing with the declining state of my grandparents mental health. I went back to my office, sat down at my desk and felt like I could fall asleep on my keyboard. My immediate, annoyed thought was “Why can’t you focus?!”.
😠

I can be so friggen hard on myself, as I am sure you can be, too. If a friend told me this was their day, I would have so much gentle love to offer. I would tell them all the reasons their feelings of annoyance and exhaustion are totally acceptable, valid and understandable and encourage them to give themselves grace.
💝

I am lucky to have friends and family who will listen when I talk through my day and my feelings. When I do, they are able to give me the gentle love and reminders I need. Like reminding me that processing that much takes a lot of mental and emotional energy, and to listen to what my body needs. Reminding me that it is normal to feel those feelings when I am going through what I am. I have great friends.
🙋‍♀️

I ran some errands after work and ended up at the bank where my mom works. Although she was in the middle of a meeting, as soon as she saw me at her door came out and greeted me with a big mama hug. She and her coworkers helped take care of my task as if I was royalty. I have a great mama (and daddyo!).
✨

I was texting my sister about other, happy, things and reluctantly decided to let her know how I was feeling. She offered a beautiful, heartfelt response. I have a great sister.
🧚‍♂️

I text Matt letting him know how I was feeling. I said I had wanted to take care of some shopping after work and now I’m was so tired I wanted him to help. I told him I felt bad leaning on him right now because I know he has a lot going on with work, training and now working on his Master’s at night. He reassured me that this is what he is here for and that we could go when he got home from work. I have a great husband.
💁‍♂️

I am not one to ask for help. I am a helper, I like to help, that is a role I am comfortable in. If we want to be the best version of us that we can be, we need to remember to ask for help. I have great people in my life who I am working on allowing to help me. I am so glad I let them help me yesterday and felt the love. Thank you to each of you! Remember you have family and friends who care about you and want to help you. If you are typically the helper, I challenge you to allow yourself to receive help and love from those who love to offer it to you.
🥰

TGIF
Xoxo,
C

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