Everyday Canvas

Helpful People

Prompt: Helpful People
Which kinds of people are helpful and which kinds hold you back? What makes a person really helpful? And is a helpful person fun to be with?

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Really helpful people can become the glue to hold families, relationships, and, at times, communities together. Being helpful doesn't always mean giving unwanted advice, but lending an understanding ear, offering help, or offering one's own take on a situation in assistance. This approach can mean a lot to the person needing that help.

As to a helpful person being fun to be with, I guess it depends on the person. People have different stances and likes where others are concerned; therefore, a person who is fun to be with depends on how any one person looks at life.

I truly appreciate when a friend's helpfulness can take the form of mentorship and philanthropy or they may be just a pal holding my hand during a tough time. Such helpful people can support me anytime especially if they don't wish for anything in return. Help should never seek reciprocity or else, it only becomes a loan.

Also, too much helpfulness can lead to dependency and can stifle personal initiative and growth. It only turns bad when that help may turn into a form of control instead of letting the person helped make her own decisions. For this reason, being truly helpful lies in its own balance, as in everything else. This is because it is not only the act of helping but considering its long-term effects on the person helped and the relationship.

After all, as much as we treasure the help, we all favor our own personal growth and autonomy.


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