Asking for help is not easy! Most of us are so much more comfortable being in the role of the helper. It takes courage to reach out to someone, and say that we need help. Whether the help needed is physical, emotional, or financial, it’s still hard. I see that every day in my role as a therapist.
When I get a call from a prospective client, I do my very best to call back quickly! I recognize how hard it can be to pick up the phone and call a perfect stranger to ask for some support and guidance. I don’t want to make anyone wait any longer than is absolutely necessary before receiving a warm, caring response from me. Why make it any harder than it has to be?
There are all kinds of calls for help. Recently, I saw a post on Facebook asking for help for someone that I knew through a networking group here in Santa Barbara. It wasn’t written by the person needing help, but by a good friend of hers. The post linked to a page about the woman’s battle, and future victory, over breast cancer. You can click on this link to go to that page. It will tell you what she is facing, and why she needs our help. The truth is that she could use a village of caring people around her right now, for physical, emotional, and financial help.
The reason I’m writing this post is to honor Valerie and her caring friends! I can only imagine the courage that it took for her to give her okay to a call for help on her behalf. I’m in awe of the circle of love that she has around her! They can’t do it alone, though, so I’m hoping that those of you reading this post might be touched by her courage and the love of her friends, enough to reach out and help in any way that you’re able.
Last week, I wrote a post about the power of Loving-Kindness to create peace in our hearts, and ultimately to create peace in our world. When I think about Valerie and her friends, the words I wrote seem fitting: “We each have the power to reach out to others, to show them that we care — not only by our words, but also by our actions! I believe there’s a tremendous power in love that is shared!”
Let’s show our love for a fellow human being who is waging war against an enemy that too many of us have also fought, or our loved ones have fought! It doesn’t matter if you know Valerie or not. I don’t know her very well, but I believe that she deserves to know she’s cared about. We all need to know that. Will you shine your loving-kindness on someone who needs it?
Until next time,
Linda
Thanks for sharing this Linda. Everyone can make a difference – it takes a village and certainly Santa Barbara has a very close likeness to a village 🙂
Thank you for caring about someone in need, Cindy! Each person who reaches out to another makes a big difference. Santa Barbara does have “a close likeness to a village” — You’re so right!
Linda
I truly and deeply appreciate that you posted this. Without the support of our community, she would not be where she is today. None of us would. Though it is not easy to reach out and ask for help, I am proud and grateful of everyone who has been a part of her victory. Thank you, Linda.
Thank you, Lisa! I’m glad that I could be of some help in Valerie’s courageous battle with cancer, and a part of her impressive victory over it. I believe to the core of my being that we are here to learn how to better love and serve each other. We all have different paths. Becoming connected to Valerie will be a big part of her community’s path toward achieving more of that learning. I look forward to being able to update this post when she achieves her victory!
Linda