Should we expect people to accept help?
We always expect people to help us, but does that mean we will accept their help?
It really just depends on the person, just like everything else.
That’s a very oversimplified version of an answer, but it is an answer nonetheless.
There are different reasons people would reject help when they need it.
These vary from a big ego, the guilt and/or the need to accomplish tasks by themselves based on prejudices or societies norms.
There isn’t one definitive answer why, but the why doesn’t really matter when it’s constantly happening.
Let’s use an example you guys can relate to.
Your friend is a recluse.
They are quiet but not with you.
They have their own issues but never talk about them.
And, they always seem to put on a facade around other people, but nobody really notices except you.
Then, after a long time of them dealing with their personal battles, they hit their breaking point and you see them spiraling down.
They lay all of their cards on the table.
They have no more options to act on but still won’t ask for your help.
You now know all of their problems, or at least the ones they want you to know about, but they still will not ask you for help.
What do you do?
Do you push your friend out of their comfort zone and help them in ways you think are right?
Or do you let them do what they have been doing for years when their issues arise, even though doing that got them in this position to begin with.
I need a good name for these recluse, dark, friends we have.
I’m going to call them “Silent Knights” just for the sake of not saying “our friends” or “recluse, dark, friends” for the rest of the article.
These “Silent Knights” aren’t abnormalities of today’s world.
They aren’t glitches in the system.
First of all, I feel like I’m objectifying them.
They’re people.
People with thoughts and emotions.
They hide their emotions well which makes it hard to read or help them but they’re there.
“Silent Knights” traits life in everybody.
I’m sure you, yes you, the person reading this column, has been a Silent Knight in your life before – disregarding and rejecting help from the people around us who truly care.
While maybe not to the same degree as people who live their lives with their emotions protected or with a wall built around them, everybody still needs help and may have trouble accepting it.
Our recluse, dark, friends.
Our “Silent Knights” will keep battling their battles and putting up the best fight they can.
But even if they think they don’t, they do need your help.
Even if it is just the smallest amount of help.
So small they may not even notice.
Silent Knights are demon slayers.
They protect themselves in isolation, in the dark.
Be there for them.
A friend.
A hidden protector.
A “Silent Guardian.”