Help!

Sometimes it all comes down to acknowledging we need some HELP.



It is amusing, how we go from a two year old (or teenager's) bold, "I do it myself!" to recognizing that we can't do life all by ourselves, after all.

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.

Let me say first, I really appreciate YOU, dear reader, for visiting, for your support, for any comments and helpful advice you leave on my blog.  ~kisses~

[And in a side note, speaking of your help - who wants to guest blog here in future months?  E-mail me with a link to your blog, or, if you don't have your own blog, with a writing sample, and sometime in May, when the dust has settled from the A-Z challenge thingie, I'll e-mail you back and we'll work something out.  Thanks!]

Back to bidness...  When we write, we're living inside the vacuum of our own heads, until we push the button that says "Publish Post" or "Send" or "Print."  (If we want to stay in our heads, we can just push that other button, "Save," and never, ever launch our work into the big, wide world - or to a friend's inbox.)

Regardless of where we are on our writing journey, we need help.  People directly help us with our writing - as informed sources, as providers of feedback, as cheering section.  Sometimes they help as that kick in the pants we desperately need. 

The Internet has been invaluable in connecting me to people who have offered fabulous insight and support, but it's important not to rely entirely on electronic friends.  My in-the-flesh writer friends and critique group are as magical and priceless as a live unicorn visiting my living room.  (Or somebody's living room; we don't always meet at my place.)

In case you were worried...  this is what Unicorn Poo looks like.
Photo via CakeWrecks

We especially need non-writing friends and family to help keep us balanced and same outside our vivid imaginary world(s), dragging us away from the screen for birthday and dinner parties and movies and gossipy brunches.  People - not just the ones we create on paper - provide the social friction and ideas and inspiration that give our writing life and meaning.

There's nothing wrong with admitting we need help.  (Especially if we've got a mop-top haircut and oodles of musical talent.) 

Do you need help you're afraid to ask for? 

What's the worst that could happen if you did?