No, no!! I'm Ok!!!
We've all experienced this rebuttal. It's often fiercely delivered and we can feel we've deeply offended this person.
But just what did we do?
Well, we probably offered a NZer some help. We may have seen someone obviously struggling with a hard to manage burden. Or we may just know that Life has served them up a monstrous catastrophe.
We just offered to help. And they just assertively refused.
It's our Kiwi way.
Just like our native bird, we keep ourselves to ourselves.
And we like to do it ourselves.
Even if we struggle.
The sense of victory can be worth it. And it is an element of our national character that leads to great innovation.
However. I'm going to trouble the waters by saying, it's an attitude that's not helping.
Amongst the many factors which have been discussed as contributing to our horrifying suicide statistics, I consider this to be a seldom spoken of factor.
Yet I think it's significant. Why would our young people, or any of us, put up our hand for help when toughing it out is our national norm?
We need to change our national mindset. It needs to be ok to accept help.
Let the change start with us!
Say 'Yes' to help!
It's a great way to strengthen relationships. It's a great way to learn we all need each other. It also simply makes Life easier.
And it starts to change our national norm.
Who knows? It might also save lives.
Arohanui Contact me: Lorraine Dodd: Counsellor in Howick, Auckland 0221 874 057, through the contact section http://lorrainedodd.wix.com/lorraine-dodd by email nurturinghope@gmail.com or Private Message me through Facebook
