As you may remember, a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how important it is to take breaks and how hard it is for me to take a break. And if you saw my post from last week, you know that my refusal to take a break resulting in the Universe knocking me flat with a broken ankle. Won’t take a break? How about a nice, quiet week in bed?

I’m going to take a risk here and admit that as bad as I am at taking breaks, I’m also terrible about asking for help. I love being efficient and independent. I’m the one who is here to help you! You do not need to help me.

Except that I’m in a cast for 8 weeks and can’t drive!

Here are my organizational lessons, and lessons in humility, from the past two weeks:

• When you feel like you need to take a break, take one before getting knocked flat. And if taking a break means asking for help, ask now before asking become a necessity!
• Even when you have no choice but to ask for help, it doesn’t mean it’s easy.
• People are not always available to help and that means you must have a good stash of “Plan Bs.”
• When people help you, it’s not exactly the same as doing something yourself – and you have to live with that and still be very, very grateful for the help.
• People tell you they want to help, but when it gets right down to it, you can tell you’re annoying them a little. I read a study one time about why it’s more fun to offer to babysit than it is to actually babysit. We all love the idea, but actually doing it can be difficult and a little unpleasant! If you have to ask for help, being organized helps lessen the impact.
  • Let someone know exactly where something is that you need.
  • Group your “asks” so you aren’t constantly asking for a new favor.
  • Ask with enough lead time that the person you’re asking doesn’t feel obligated to help if the timing doesn’t work for them.
• Even when you have to ask for help, you are never helpless. You just have to be a little more inventive.

When I am back on my feet, I can’t wait to pay this forward – helping with a grateful heart. Who can I help? Who needs a hand? I hope this insight stays with me for the rest of my life.

If you have to be in bed for week, having this view out the front window isn’t bad. This is my sister-in-law Shirley’s “cut” garden. I live in a little piece of heaven up here in Maine.

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