Asking for Help

People needing people.

I've always coiled away from the concept. You need to be independent, be a rock, figure it out for yourself, research the facts and make your own judgement.

That works fine when you have enough time in the day to accomplish everything you need to do and learn everything you need to know.

The past couple of weeks have been very hectic and mentally exhausting and I found myself asking for help and accepting help.
Turns out it wasn't such a bad thing and I am the wiser for it.

I am not sure what keeps people from leaning on each other.
Probably the urge to feel completely independent, in control at all times. Perhaps its the philosophy... if you what something done right you have to do it yourself...maybe its pride and ego, or sometimes a person feels if others help them they will have people looking for favours from them down the road.
I actually used to work with a guy like that, he never asked or wanted help because, and I quote, "it shows weakness...then others will expect you to help them".
Selfish and short sited view of the world if you ask me.
Anyways, I digress, I believe its important to be self sufficient and be as independent as you can be but also recognize the value of the people around you.
Martial arts is meant to develop the individual. You spend alot of time inside your head figuring things out and only you can make yourself practice,ponder and improve.
That being said, the martial arts organization is meant to provide the individual with guidance through interaction as a group.
Here lies a great resource when we decide to lean on each other.
I'll be the first to admit, I know I am far from perfect and efficient but I also have a hard time asking for any help, inside and outside of the kwoon.
I cut my resources and my potential in half by not stepping out of preconceived notion of myself as one who can handle it all.
Delegating to others, trusting others, accepting guidance and help from others is part of a balanced life.
We are social creatures, we can only excel and thrive when we trust in one another.

Trust is a precious commodity, sometimes given away too freely sometimes never given at all.
But thats another blog all together!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada