This morning I woke up to the sound of scrubbing, and by the time I went into the bathroom, what I saw was a sparkling clean bathtub.
So for sure, this #thankyouthursday I am grateful for a clean tub—and I am especially grateful for how it got that way.
It’s not easy for me to ask for help. Several of my past therapists could probably tell you why, but the point is, it’s a thing, and I’m working on it.
And it turns out being super pregnant provides fantastic opportunities for requesting assistance!
Part of my self-care routine involves plenty of baths—I’m currently in possession of a truly absurd amount of Epsom salt—and that naturally requires the periodic cleaning of the bathtub. But as I’ve gotten larger and more unwieldy, I’ve become less able to bend, kneel, stretch, etc.
So I had to ask my partner to clean the bathtub.
Ostensibly, this was a simple and obvious request. My partner is a fantastic roommate who takes on plenty of domestic responsibilities. But for some reason I think of bathroom cleaning as “my job,” and if I’m really honest, that’s possibly because I like to be in control of the outcome. In other words, it’s easier to just do it my way.
But since “my way” is currently “no way,” I had to ask for help, and I am so glad I did.
Not only did my partner immediately agree to the task, but he completed it more thoroughly than I would have.
I’m telling you, that tub is GLEAMING.
Soooo, lesson learned.* I don’t have to be in charge of everything, which is great considering I absolutely can’t be.
*Actually, I have learned this lesson plenty of times before, and I’m sure this time won’t be the last. Isn’t it great we get so many chances?
What I CAN be is willing to ask for support. Requesting help is an important muscle to build, regardless of outcome—though more often than not, the outcome is pretty dang good.
So this #thankyouthursday, I encourage you to consider where you could use some help…and to ask for it.
Love > fear,
