Asking for (and Getting) Help

One of the things I am really trying to work on in my life is asking for help and opening myself up to my friends. I have a hard time with these sorts of things--asking other people to do me favors, give me rides, or go out of their way. I am fine with asking for help in all sorts of offical ways, but not in those real-quick-I-need-a-ride sort of ways.

Most of this has to do with me. I am not good at letting go of control. If we all go out, I tend to drive. I organize events. I don't want people to feel put out.

But, on the other hand, I think it also says a LOT about the people I am now friends with that I can start making this change. It's not that I have had "bad" friends in the past, but I am not sure I have really felt like I could count on people the way I feel with my current friends.

Let me explain:

My car has been acting a bit weird lately. Today I finally decided to call and see if I could get someone to look at it. My only options were to wait about two week to have somone look at it or get my car to the dealership this afternoon. I sent out a text to a handful of friends asking for help, and within five minutes I had about five people offering to drive me to drop off my car, an offer to actually borrow someone's car while mine was in the shop, and apologies from those unable to help but asking if there was anything else they could do.

I know I am not supposed to be amazed by things like that, but I was. I was sitting in my office close to tears thinking that such a response would never have happened five years ago. Part of that is because I have finally begun to trust the people in my life enough to know that I am allowed to ask for these kinds of things, but another big part is that I simply have amazing friends.

G&G, Texas B, J&J, B&T, E: You guys are wonderful. I am so, so, lucky to have you.