Better Together

Why do we think we have to do everything by ourselves? Somewhere in our culture of independence and self-sufficiency, somebody goofed. These are excellent virtues, yes... but they can be taken to the extreme.

The past few weeks a group of women I am part of have been participating in a fun activity. On Sunday we draw one of the other women's names and then we do something to help her that following week. I've been so surprised when I ask what I can do to help and the answer I get is, "I'm fine."

Really? Cause if you were perfectly fine then you wouldn't have anything left to do here on planet Earth.

So... I did something anyway... for each of them... unbidden. I'm such a rebel.

But it gave me pause. Why do we have such a hard time asking for help? Is it because we don't dare admit that we can't do it ALL? Heaven forbid!

I think we forgot that we are MEANT to help each other. We are MEANT to work together. We are MEANT to learn from each other. Besides, it's more efficient, more fulfilling, and more FUN.

Another friend and I have made it a regular habit to get together and help each other. I'll go to her house and do her dishes while I put my laundry in her washer (I don't have one!) and we'll talk and work and come up with great ideas for the world's problems... or at least our own.

It reminds me of days when women did their wash together at the stream. Or sewed a quilt for a young bride. Or sat out on someone's lawn during the long evenings of summer while the kids played together.

We were MEANT to work, play, laugh, cry, BE TOGETHER.

Stop saying, "I'm fine." Start saying, "Let's wash our cars together."

Just a thought.