The Mayday call goes back to 1923, when it was adopted as a international distress signal for aviators and mariners. The call is always given three times in succession, along with name of craft or call sign, position or heading and help that is requested.
We talk about help a lot in my meetings. How to ask for it, how to get along without it. Because even when folks want you to be successful, they don't always want to have to change what they do. After all, they aren't the ones who are overweight. They aren't the ones with a problem. It's a quandary. Because to be successful at weight loss, you have to be able to control your environment to some degree. Now I don't think that because I'm watching what I eat, that no one out to dinner with me can eat dessert. That's silly. But if you know that soda is my weakness/addiction, why would you bring them into my house? And why, for one minute, would you think that I would not drink them? There is a reason I don't bring ice cream, cookies or regular sodas into my house. Because if I had any willpower, I wouldn't be 30 pounds overweight, now would I?
It's hard to ask for help. It's hard to send out that Mayday call. Not because it's so hard to ask those we love for help, but because sometimes, the answer is no.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard no by those who care for me, those who claim they want to help me and by those who are supposed to be my biggest supporters. It's hard and it puts up one more road block that you don't need. If you can, start surrounding yourself with people who will say yes. I know that we can't avoid the "no" people, but they will start getting the hint when you choose to go to dinner with someone over then or stop asking them over. Set yourself up for success as best you can. If you need me come over and go chickadee china on their butts I will! ;o)
ReplyDelete