{"id":1174,"date":"2013-07-01T22:55:10","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T20:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greenman.co.za\/blog\/?p=1174"},"modified":"2013-07-01T23:02:07","modified_gmt":"2013-07-01T21:02:07","slug":"trust-and-asking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenman.co.za\/blog\/?p=1174","title":{"rendered":"Trust and asking"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was young, I would find it very difficult to ask anyone for help. I remember many stalemates with my father, where I would stubbornly not ask, and he would stubbornly not offer.<\/p>\n

A university job cold soliciting advertising for the student newspaper helped immensely!<\/p>\n

Not asking for help is a meanness of spirit, as most people are only to happy to have a chance to help. The giver receives a precious opportunity, often worth so much more than what was given.<\/p>\n

Here are two inspiring examples of people asking for help, and placing trust in others.<\/p>\n

The Ubuntu Girl<\/a> left home in 2009 with a backpack, a camera, a phone and R100 and walked and hitchhiked for the next year through South Africa. Without a tent or sleeping bag, 150 families took her, a complete stranger, into their homes and provided her with food, shelter and welcome.<\/p>\n

She’s crowdfunding a book based on her adventure, so you can help contribute<\/a> if you wish.<\/p>\n

Amanda Palmer<\/a> is a successful musician. But her first job was as the eight foot bride, and taught her about the human need for connection. Here’s her TED talk on the Art of Asking, couchsurfing and crowdsurfing:<\/p>\n