Mention Your Plight in the Company of Others

He Mentioned a Problem

Allow me to give you an example of what I’m talking about. I used to live next to an older gentlemen who from time to time would causally mention that something was running amok in his life. And me being a helpful person used to offer up myself as a possible solution to his problem. One time his toilet was making funny sounds when he flushed the stool. After inspecting same I suggested he call a person to check his septic tank, which might be ready to be cleaned out. I even gave him a name to call. I found out later he called the person and sure enough the septic system needed to be cleaned out.

Then Had a Tree Problem

The one-day I was talking to another neighbor and he came over again and joined in. This time he needed to have a tree cut down which was close to his house and was causing dampness to develop next to his bedroom window. My other neighbor said he had a chain saw and would be glad to cut it down for him. He did and even helped to burn the sawed wood.

Being Used

Finally during a neighborhood garage sale a few of us guys got together and through conversation realized we were all being used by the older gentlemen in the neighborhood. We had all unknowingly fell for his game of I need help and then just waited for us to jump in and rescue him.

Was Well Off

And the real tragedy of the whole thing was that he was well off and just didn’t want to use his money to solve his problems unless he had to. And for the most part we made that happen for him. Now don’t get me wrong I’m glad to help but don’t care about being taken advantage of.

Mentioning is a Way to Secure Help

But this whole process has taught me a valuable lesson most people are generous with their labor and are glad to help those who need the help. So if you genuinely need help because money and strength isn’t your strong suit you might want to consider what my neighbor did and seek the kindness of others and solve the critical problems in your life. All that is required is I have a problem and then just wait for someone to step up and say may I help you.


Don L. Terrill

photo by ashleytheartist2002