Thank you I love you

Thank you.

I love you.

I was wrong.

I’m sorry.

Please help me.

Some years ago (I forget how many), I read somewhere (I forget where) that being able to say these five sentences was the key to living a happy life in connection with others (or something like that). 

Thank you.

I love you.

I was wrong.

I’m sorry.

These four come easily to me. But then there’s that fifth one, the one involving help, the one that always comes out “How can I help?” 

I often forget that the words “help me” exist.

When I’m upset or struggling, I have to remind myself that the phrase is there, that those words exist in that particular combination, and that they do, in fact, have meaning.

Only then can I begin the difficult and fiddly work to find the courage to say the words, and to choose to whom to say them. Courage, fortitude, compassion, and trust all must be marshaled in equal measure, with  a double-sized portion of faith woven into the mix before I find the voice to say “Please help me.”

And afterward, I always feel better, even if there is no immediate help or relief for whatever is troubling me. Afterward, I find myself saying Thank you for listening; I love you. 

Thank you.

I love you.