Most of us do not like to ask for help or ask for anything for that matter. Some people think they will be judged if they don’t “know” everything.

I discovered at times the quickest and easiest way to get what you want is to ask.  I was at the Austin airport this month.  They have a large vending machine that sells very fancy, made fresh daily cupcakes in lots of festive flavors; and when you buy one, the machine sings to you for a dance party..

I was looking at the choices, and another woman was doing the same.  I asked what flavor she was thinking of, and she said “Oreo or red velvet”. I was thinking the same.  Then I got a wild idea that we could share cupcakes!  What, you say, share cupcakes with a stranger at the airport?  I know. 

It was a pretty low risk ask and she thought it was an amazing idea. I went to Starbucks and got a knife, and she cut them in two, and we each got what we wanted.

Never in my life  would I have envisioned asking a stranger to share cupcakes.  Then again, never had I seen such delectable treats in a vending machine at an airport either.

Message to caregivers – sometimes, every once in a while, all it takes is a simple ask, and you too can get what you want: someone to go to the store for you, to sit with your loved one, to pick up a prescription – you get the drift. 

It was only slightly uncomfortable wondering, what will this person think of me asking this?  Then I got over myself and got to try not one but two fun cupcake flavors.  Challenge for you – ask for what you want and you might be delightfully surprised. Double challenge – if you are curious about coaching, ask for a free session. We can talk about all the things for which it is harder to ask for help.