Self-Help

I must be honest and say I am not a great fan of self-help. Naturally though, I would rather deal with a positive person than a negative one any day of the week.  My problem is that self-help is only good as far as it goes.
One of the scariest things to me is not recognizing need.  From the most together person in the world, to the one that is falling apart big time, we all have needs.  It seems to me that can be disguised quite easily in everyday life.
I was young once and now I am old.  In that time all sorts of fads have come and gone.  Some remerge.  Different but the same.  All designed to improve a life-style or life.  Many can and do.  In the end they may be a helpful distraction.
The question I cannot help asking myself is “what about those people for whom self-help is no more than a good dream?”  Are they excluded from life because though they try, they can never get off first base?  As they say, “good for some.”  I wonder, “were the rich and famous who drowned on the Titanic, any better off in the end than the poor on the ship who also drowned?”
It is probably different now but back when I was reading such things, the likes of Norman Vincent Peale, Zig Ziglar and Robert Schuller were guru’s of self-help.  Things each of them said have stuck with me big time and become lampposts on my road.
That road reminds me of Merril and members of her family visiting the show.  The Ekka had changed big time to make way for redevelopment.  Having had enough, they went down paths to lead them out.  When they reached the end, rather than being a way out, they had to turn back and retrace their steps to get out.  Merril’s dad declared they wanted only to visit the carpark pavilion.  To me, as interesting as the road of self-help can be, it does not provide a way out.
I think my age allows me to repeat myself.  I honestly cannot remember if I have mentioned it before, but I heard about a guy who wanted to take his own life.  When a fire was approaching, he sat down waiting for the flames to engulf him.  That freaked the onlookers out.  All except for one guy.  He went and sat with the guy and talked to him.  That was all that was needed.  At an opportune time he said “perhaps we should go and continue this discussion elsewhere.”  They both emerged unscathed.  That turned potential tragedy to triumph.
When I discover something good, I want to share it.  It may get crowded but so be it.  I prefer to share a good experience rather than experience it alone.  Even Facebook seems to indicate it is a common desire.  How many times is a meal shared, or places seen shared.  I have done it, and others do too.  It seems we willingly experience the experiences of other.
As hard as it is to believe I am not the centre of the universe.  I want others to know about good stuff.  Not just “good for now” stuff, but “good for always” stuff.