Need Some Help?

Backing my mini-van into our snow and ice covered gravel driveway is a mundane daily activity.

Today I got stuck. In my own driveway. Not watching where I was going, I bumped into some junk piled alongside the driveway. Trying to go forward and maneuver around the junk, my tires spun and spun on the still unmelted ice.

Grumpily getting the kids out of the van, my first thought after, FUCK!, was to go over and ask my neighbor if she had a tow rope.

I immediately wanted to ask for help.

My youngest sister Samantha takes pride in doing everything herself. She hates asking for help and does so with numerous apologies and plenty of guilt. Samantha moved most of her furniture into her house in Kemmerer by herself.

I considered Samantha and her aversion to asking for help, went back outside, moved the junk, backed the van up and over the icy spot, thus avoiding any humiliation or groveling.

Do I ask for help to often? Did I get so used to asking for help that I just automatically assume I can't do anything by myself?

Do those you ask for help think you are a clumsy idiot?

Don't you hate it when you offer to help someone and they refuse even though they obviously need it?

Are you/am I helpless, helpful, neither or both?

Do you hate asking for help?

Do you do it even though you don't want to?

How far do you have to be pushed before you will ask for help?

Is it better to give or give others a chance to give?