Birthdays and Help

June is my birthday month! I can't even fathom how fast these last 22 years have gone by.  Many wonderful, terrifically difficult, excruciatingly sad, and extremely confusing events that have shaped me into the person that currently walks this earth.  I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason, and though I may not believe it sometimes, I am stronger for it.

Birthdays seem like a silly thing.  Sure you are celebrating the day you began your life in this world, but why should you only celebrate your life one day out of the year?  My goal is to celebrate my life everyday.  Appreciating it in little ways.  Something as simple as saying to myself, you are beautiful and you have so much to offer is vital to my sanity.  I have to keep reminding myself that I am good enough and that I do have a lot to offer.  Life should be celebrated like everyday is your birthday, not a hassle 364 days out of the year.  Sure there will be set backs, but the key is finding light in every setback, finding light in the dark.

In addition to my birthday, my cousin's birthday is tomorrow! He will be 24 years old.  Craziness! Also one of my really great friend Allison's birthday is tomorrow and she will be 22.  I am happy I am getting older because I really do feel like I am getting wiser.  I learn new things about myself everyday. Like this past weekend when I was working at the wienersnitzel restaurant.  I was filling up a big cooler of ice.  I was just going to carry it out to the terrace by myself, even though it would be much easier to ask for help to carry it out.  One of the chefs asked me if I wanted help, but I said no, I didn't need it.  But then he said "I know you don't need it, but you can ask for it".  You can ask for help.  This has resonated with me.  I am just used to not asking for help. Caving, falling, crumbling into myself, self-destruction at its finest.  That way, if I fail, then I am the only one to blame, and no one will be mad at me except for myself.  This is no way to live my life.  You need to ask for help if you need it.  This will make your life and many other people's lives easier.  Instead of running around like a chicken with your head cut off, flailing and chopping other chickens heads off, keeping your head attached is the most important thing.  With your head attached you will be able to find solutions to problems, ask people questions, and ultimately be successful in whatever you are trying to accomplish, like laying eggs and clucking and whatever chickens do.  Ask for help when you need it.  This is a simple concept on paper, but when put into action can surface insecurities that you may want to keep in the back of your mind.  Its important to face these insecurities eventually.  Maybe not all at once, but they need to be addressed or they will keep building until you completely lose yourself.

Asking for help is a simple thing.  Even when you don't need it, ask for it.  This will form strong bonds with people, but also will build your trust and confidence in people.  Those who have wronged you will seem minuscule in comparison to those who have helped you here, and done a little favor for you there.

I am happy to be alive!  Every day is a new day.  I am so excited for tomorrow because I am getting my new car! Woohoo.

What do you have a hard time asking for?
What do you think you need help with?
Why do you need that help?