It is widely known in my family that I am the strong one. I’m not really sure when this all came about but somehow over the years I became the “one”. In the throws of a crisis I am the one with the calm, cool demeanor and the one to step up and handle things; especially if it is a medical crisis. I somehow have an uncanny knowledge of medical things and I know stuff that I know without knowing how I know. Crazy as that seems it’s true. I sometimes joke that I must have been a Doctor in a previous life.
At any rate I am the one to handle all emergency situations and I am also the one to make sure that everyone else is okay. I try as best I can to shield my family and close friends from things that may make them sad or cause them pain. I am also the one to take the brunt of any bad situation to make sure that everyone else is okay.
Recently a good friend posed an interesting question to me. He said “I understand that you are a strong woman and that you are everything to everyone else but while you are there for everyone else, who is there for you?” That really caused me to think about his question.
I am a very strong person and I do try to be there for everyone but I definitely have a hard time asking anyone for help or letting anyone see me when I am not my best. I will do anything that I can to help my family and friends but when it comes to me I very rarely if ever ask for help. I have helped family and friends pack up and move but when it’s my turn I don’t seek out help not even from my family. 90% of the time no one offers to help me anyway. LOL
I said all of that to say that even though I don’t ask for help or let anyone see my vulnerable side I urge you not to be like me. It’s okay to lean on others in times of need or crisis. Your family and close friends hopefully will be there for you just as you are for them so give them the opportunity to step up. In fact, they may not even know that you need help since you are unwilling to ask for it. I am trying to let my guard down a little and let people in but it’s really hard for me. I am trying but as with most things in my life…… I am a work in progress.
I am learning that being vulnerable is another sign of strength not a sign of weakness.
