Are you considered an "expert" in your field by your friends or family? If so, you may have experienced the somewhat unpleasant phenomenon called "help on demand/request or you are a jerk".

Although we are encouraged to train for positions that will allow us to provide for our families, we are somehow expected to also provide products, services and assistance for free when asked by our own friends and family.

While there is nothing wrong with helping and most of us desire to help anyway, it can become emotionally and financially draining. If left unchecked, it can also lead to feelings of resentment and being used on the part of the "expert" and feelings of hurt and offense on the part of the "asker".

During these times, it is important to remember that we all have something to contribute and a mutually beneficially agreement can and should be negotiated. After all, no one likes feeling used and most of us don't like feeling like a charity case either.

Finding that middle ground and expressing yourself in a clear and respectful manner is a hard thing but definitely worth the effort.

Wishing you much peace, happiness and success,

Unknown

Are you considered an "expert" in your field by your friends or family? If so, you may have experienced the somewhat unpleasant phenomenon called "help on demand/request or you are a jerk".

Although we are encouraged to train for positions that will allow us to provide for our families, we are somehow expected to also provide products, services and assistance for free when asked by our own friends and family.

While there is nothing wrong with helping and most of us desire to help anyway, it can become emotionally and financially draining. If left unchecked, it can also lead to feelings of resentment and being used on the part of the "expert" and feelings of hurt and offense on the part of the "asker".

During these times, it is important to remember that we all have something to contribute and a mutually beneficially agreement can and should be negotiated. After all, no one likes feeling used and most of us don't like feeling like a charity case either.

Finding that middle ground and expressing yourself in a clear and respectful manner is a hard thing but definitely worth the effort.

Wishing you much peace, happiness and success,

Unknown

Been a while since I last posted, huh?

It would be an understatement to say my little family is going through a lot but, we're going through a lot. LOL

For the most part, it's all good. The having to wait for a rock cutter to come slice a path through the rock for my high-speed internet and cable t.v. isn't so fun BUT it's caused us to grow a little closer.

My 8 year-old son, CJ, had already become a tech geek and found the transition almost painful. I told him a few "When I was your age ..." stories and realized that seemed to freak him out more than make him smile.

All he could focus on was no streaming videos, no super cool games, no instant research answers. We'd be lugging our laptops to the "local" (40 miles away in one direction) library and spending time - gasp! - doing "family night" things almost every day. What once was just a once-a-week treat became something he dreaded.

Then it all changed. I don't know when or why but it did. Not only are we closer than we've ever been but he's reading more, discussing things with me and genuinely smiling again.

We've gone through a lot and have a bit more to go through but it is so nice to quietly sit here, watching my son. He's still the little geek but he's not stuck in his tech anymore. He's interacting with the other kids and being a kid. Much more mature than I'd wish him to be but Lord, how proud I am of him.

Wishing you much peace, happiness and success,

Unknown

Been a while since I last posted, huh?

It would be an understatement to say my little family is going through a lot but, we're going through a lot. LOL

For the most part, it's all good. The having to wait for a rock cutter to come slice a path through the rock for my high-speed internet and cable t.v. isn't so fun BUT it's caused us to grow a little closer.

My 8 year-old son, CJ, had already become a tech geek and found the transition almost painful. I told him a few "When I was your age ..." stories and realized that seemed to freak him out more than make him smile.

All he could focus on was no streaming videos, no super cool games, no instant research answers. We'd be lugging our laptops to the "local" (40 miles away in one direction) library and spending time - gasp! - doing "family night" things almost every day. What once was just a once-a-week treat became something he dreaded.

Then it all changed. I don't know when or why but it did. Not only are we closer than we've ever been but he's reading more, discussing things with me and genuinely smiling again.

We've gone through a lot and have a bit more to go through but it is so nice to quietly sit here, watching my son. He's still the little geek but he's not stuck in his tech anymore. He's interacting with the other kids and being a kid. Much more mature than I'd wish him to be but Lord, how proud I am of him.

Wishing you much peace, happiness and success,

Unknown