Find Your People

Mary Pipher, a psychologist from Lincoln Nebraska, has made a call for less independence and more interdependence*. She claims that it would make the path to aging much easier to travel. How so?

We Americans are known for our fierce independence. We don’t want to need help, let alone ask for it. In some countries it is more common to recognize that everyone has needs throughout their lifespan. This belief makes the transition to aging adult much less painful because you are not made to feel like a burden.

You can start now to ease the way by asking for help. I delayed putting up a website for a very long time, first because I didn’t think I was good enough but secondly because I couldn’t figure it all out and I didn’t want someone to think I was stupid because I was asking for help. Turns out that the tech guy at the local library was dying for something to do the day I showed up and has emailed me a couple of times since then to see if there is anything else he can do for me. Who knew—people actually like to be asked to help!

So my advice for creatives? Find your people. Look for groups of folks that are doing the same thing you are doing and ask them for help. They will love you for it.

Another Country, Mary Pipher.

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Watercolor Studio group Holiday Party