Ain't it good to know?

For the last few weeks, we’ve been tortoise-sitting at our house. Sunny and Turbo are quiet and easy houseguests. They just need a little food, a small bowl of water, and flipping over from time to time. Jane is especially fond of them. She even created a portrait of their favorite food for their living room. 

With a Little Help

Yesterday evening, I brought them out for a nice dinner by carrying them to their favorite plant in our backyard. (The nice thing about them liking weeds is that the food replenishes so quickly, growing like…weeds.)

They cleared out the first appetizer of leaves that they could reach with their tiny little necks. I then created a two inch ramp of rocks so they could eat the top of the three inch plant.

I thought how small you must be that a two inch increase in reach can make such a big difference in life.

But then I thought of something I mentioned to Candace the other day while I was fixing our ceiling fans.

Using the step stool that is convenient in our office, I climbed to the very top step. Reaching up as high as possible, I extend to my tippy toes and my tippy fingers just so I can tighten the loose screws. Orthopedic destruction was hanging in the balance, literally. It would have been really nice to have a couple more inches of reach to take away the risk.

It turns out that people of all heights could use the same amount of boost from time to time. No matter what it looks like from the outside, even strong and independent people need help. 

Socially skilled people can still value new friends.

Affluent people can still appreciate small gifts. 

Beautiful people can still treasure compliments.

Etc…

In Science and Music

There is a paper about Attachment in Adulthood that is interesting. Part of their report showed a dependency paradox. It found that individuals who feel comfortable depending on other people actually become more capable, confident, and dependent. Just knowing that there is help can encourage you to free up your mental resources and try a few more risks. 

The paradox boils down to this: dependance can actually foster independence. 

Or put another way…“Now ain't it good to know that you've got a friend…”

(Once again, James Taylor has it right and you could use more of him in your life.)