Asking for help

For some reason, society has made us believe that as a man, asking for help should be one of the last things on your list, something I find to be completely wrong.

_{photo by nikko macaspac}

This past week, I've had conversations with two of my friends who also happens to be my neighbours, these are conversation that showed me that most men would rather suffer in silence than cry out to people for help.

One faithful evening, I was seated out with this guy (let's call him Frank), and Frank was quietly telling me about how he hasn't gotten any jobs lately (Frank has a handiwork) and how he literally has been surviving through the help of his girlfriend who was now visiting more frequently than before.

Frank had gone into details, explaining his situation to me and by the time he was done with everything, I was shocked. I couldn't believe someone whose room was next to mine was going through all of this and I had no idea.

When I asked him why he was just telling me all this now, he had said it was because he knew everyone was going through a lot individually and he didn't want to burden anyone with his own problems. It was an understandable reason but also a dumb one and that was what I had told him.

You see, my dad used to get real upset with I and my siblings back in the day whenever he found out that we needed money for something but didn't say anything to him because we were trying not to add more bills to the ones he already had to pay.

He would scold us, telling us to always tell him whenever we needed anything because even though times may be tough, he could have some money to spare and give it us, but when we don't tell him, he might end up using that spare cash for something not so important..and that was the same thing I had told Frank.

I had told him that the next time he finds himself in such a tight corner, that he shouldn't hesitate to come meet me for help. I might not be able to help completely and give him everything he asks for, but I might be able to assist with the little I have, depending on what I do have at the moment.

You see, a lot of guys go through this same problem, choosing to keep their mouth shut when they're in need of certain help because they have this mentality that as a man, you should be the one providing and not disturbing other people with your problem.

In as much as part of that could be true, I want y'all to know that when times do get tough, there's absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help because at the end of the day, everyone do need assistance in one way or the other, even the richest person you know.