“Everybody needs a little help being human.”

NPR, Life Kit

I have something to admit: I love self-help. I think there can be an unspoken sense of embarrassment that comes with the self-help genre. I used to see strangers browsing that section of the bookstore and feel the need to look away. There is a vulnerability in it that can make you feel like a nervous child asking for help in a crowded classroom. Somewhere between the fake smiles and automated “I’m fines,” we are trained to put on a brave face. We feel needy, silly even for asking for help. Throughout my time in college, I’ve slowly unlearned this [insert noun of what i’m talking about lol]. There is immense power in knowing yourself enough to ask for the things you need.

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve dived more into the self-help world as I’ve had the time to  reflect on my own life. I’ve learned the good and the bad of the self-help world from “By the Book” and turned to “Life Kit” for advice on everything from friends to family to finances. 

In my most recent self-help find, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Glennon posed the question: “What is the truest, most beautiful story about your life you can imagine?”

In my story, I am exploring (safely)– a new city, new friendships, new experiences. I am trying new restaurants and new foods. I am comfortable in my own company, fortified by the love and support of my friends and family. My dog Milo and I experiment with different routes on our walks. I am working in an organization that uplifts the causes I care about most. It is the good kind of hard work that you want to keep doing. I have moments of mindfulness, meditation or yoga, every day. I feel at home in my body. I am making the most of the things I can still do in pandemic world and not fretting over the things that I can’t. I listen to my heart when it hurts.

To make this story a reality, I know I’ll need support and help along the way.Hopefully in our future, there will be live music again soon. For now,  enjoy this live clip of the Beatles because if I can’t convince you to seek out the support you need, maybe they can.