I was speaking with a client of mine this afternoon about a program on his computer. He is an older gentleman, but very knowledgeable when it comes to computers. He was hoping I would be able to explain to him how to duplicate a CD recording of a message that had been recorded by his church. I took the time to walk him through it once so I could assist him if he ran into any difficulties. Through my instructions, his patience and his willingness to ask for help he was able to copy the message onto a second CD for his sister.

Lots of times people get frustrated at computers and electronics in general, because they are too proud to ask for help. It is embarrassing for them, an older and wiser person, to ask younger people for help. It is not just older people; I have encountered younger people who also feel as if they would look “dumb” if they had to ask for help with something related to a computer. If only we were not so proud as to be ashamed to ask for help. There is nothing wrong with admitting you need help or there is something you do not understand. No one person will know everything there is to know about any one thing, let alone know it about everything! We all have things we are good at, and if someone asks us for help for something we are knowledgeable about, let us remember to treat them the way we want to be treated when we put ourselves out there and seek help.

So let’s all strive to be better at asking for help when we need it and be better about the ways and tones we use when we are helping someone else. I know that I need help with many things, and hope to be respected about my lack of knowledge in a subject just as I try and treat people with dignity when they ask me questions about things I know.