I couldn’t believe it this morning when I read one of my favorite comic strips and the whole cartoon was about a teenage boy discovering his secret weapon (gassing his mother away from the couch where he was sitting)…

Now, many that know me might say this comic was talking about my secret weapon, and perhaps I have more than one, but the secret weapon I’m talking about today is really not a weapon at all but more my ability to ask for help.  A group of us went to see the movie (true story) “127 hours” (http://tinyurl.com/32hw6us) which is about a rock climber named Aron Ralston who gets his arm stuck between a boulder and a canyon wall and what he went through for 127 hours.  This is normally not the kind of movie (even though it is a true story) that I would want to see but I ended up acquiescing and going along with the group to watch it.  It was very well done and James Franco should definitely be nominated for an Oscar.

What I got from the movie is the importance of being able to reach out and ask for help from others. Although it is great to be able to be strong and independent, I believe that we humans were built to work, help, and interrelate with one another while walking our path of life.  Asking for help has never been an easy thing for me to do. In my mind asking for help used to mean admitting defeat.  I used to have this terrible anxiety that someday I would have a heart attack in a crowd of people and rather than disturb anyone, I would try to limp and crawl out of the way and off to the side.  Course, when you’re really really out of your normal state of mind it is easier to accept help than not.  I’m not recommending that you wait until the last moment though.

I’m still amazed when I learn of someone who is going through hell in their personal or business life and the last thing that occurs to them is to ask for help.  They have no desire to explore counseling or coaching or mentoring or 12-step programs or a myriad of helpful people, tools and programs that can help them.  I have to say that I probably would have been one of those people as well if many years ago I hadn’t been pushed up against the wall of reality or a break down.  I am so grateful for all the help that I have found along the way and not receiving it in an obsequious way either!  It’s very attractive to know what your limits are and when you need to accept support.

As we dive into the Holidays this month, remember that you do not have to go it alone.  There is plenty of love, help and support out there depending on what you need all you have to do is reach out and ask for it.