Accepting Support....

As a grown woman...I am not good at accepting support from others. I always feel like I need to take care of everything myself. Well since moving to Los Angeles I have learned in some ways to accept support...and in others I still have a long way to go.

This morning I was blessed with a phone call from a dear friend. His name is Charlie. He was my first administrator when I got my first high school teaching job. I spent many times in his office working through the ups and downs of a first year teacher. When I left to be on the opening staff of a charter school...Charlie told me he wanted to continue mentoring me and help me with my new role as wife and my role as advisor. So we met weekly, and he taught me this great tool called Re-Evaluation Counseling or RC for short. And for the past six years I have enjoyed the support Charlie and RC offers...thank you.

So back to this morning...he called and we did a phone session. The tears came, I laughed, and got to the point I needed to get to. Then the best part the "out questions". The are designed to pull you out of the muck to remind you that in this moment nothing bad is happening.

So Trisha, What are the three oldest things in your refrigerator?
"Oh, goodness, the baking soda, three apples from when we first moved in, and the tablespoon off heavy whipping cream I don't want to throw away." His response, "perfect"

"How much snow will fall in Lake Tahoe this week." I said, "Seven Feet!" His response, "Exactly, and we so need it."

"Who will win the Tour de Sacramento this weekend." "Jeez, Charlie I have no idea, Jo Smoe."

His response, "Exactly!"

The best part of the those out questions is the fun we have connecting over the silliest of things...I found my breath slowed and my chest felt less constricted than it had all week and I was grateful for his support and even more grateful that I am getting better at reaching out and asking for help. Which reminds me I need to send a few emails...

I hope you find the support when you most need it and even more so hope I can offer you support along the way. Isn't that why we are all here anyway to learn to work together?