“Let me know how I can help.“
That’s what people say when you’re in a time of crisis but polite conditioning kicks in and secretly you think – I won’t ask for help unless I’m desperate.
Because they live miles away, or they’re broken themselves, or you could conceivably get by without the awkwardness of asking for help.
But then you have those who are so determined to help that they make it easier for you to ask.
Like for example they invent reasons why they’re in the neighborhood and they have a casserole that would go to waste otherwise and you feel like you’re doing them a favour by taking it.
But really you’re very grateful for the help and it’s just the right amount of social engineering needed to get around the hangups of asking for help.
Thomas Duggan 