Don’t be afraid to ask for help

I am a stubborn, hard-headed person who will almost always respond to anything with “I got this.”

I’ve always hated asking for help. It’s not because I see asking for help as a weakness or that I want all the glory to myself, I just enjoy being independent. I enjoy being able to do it on my own.

However, hating asking for help and not being able to are two completely different beasts when it comes to life. Just because I hate it, doesn’t mean I won’t do it.

I had to ask for help from friends and family while I was in the hospital and the first couple days of recovery.

I had to ask for help when I had kidney stones and literally had to have my two friends drag me on their shoulders to the car because I couldn’t move due to pain.

I’ve had to ask for help as a green staff writer coming out of college and not knowing about the area or how things worked at the office.

I asked for help more times than I’ll ever admit during college.

Some of the times I’ve asked for help have literally saved my life and some have been much less serious, but I can say that every time has made me a better person.

You can be stubborn and hard-headed all you want to, but it’s important to not only know when to ask for help but also not be afraid to.

You miss out on a whole lot when you don’t ask for help, and I don’t just mean time wise.

I’ve met some of the coolest people in my life when I’ve had to ask for help and when I’ve been asked for help.

These are people whose names I don’t know, but will forever stay locked in my mind.

The preacher that jumped me off at 2 a.m. in Lithonia, Ga., didn’t ask anything of me except that I pray and thank the Lord that he sent someone.

The couple who asked for a ride after the entire rear axel of their Jeep came off were the nicest parents. They asked for help because they just wanted to see their child at the school play; the car could wait.

When vow to never ask for help, you’re not improving life. You’re not becoming stronger.

All you’re doing is cutting yourself off from people who want to help. People who can make your life easier or change it forever. People who maybe God placed there just for you.

As a child, student, person and employee, never be afraid to ask for help. The only person you’re hurting when you don’t is yourself.

It’s a life lesson that people often learn the hard way—that I learned the hard way long ago.

A lesson that’s fresh on my mind after recent events. A lesson that’s always relevant, no matter the time.

Justin Blowers is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are his own and not the opinion of the paper. He can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].