Help!

 

My collection of Beatles' albums on vinyl isn't as extensive as I'd like. Most of my albums are the earlier ones, purchased in the mid-60s. I don't regret that at all though. In 1965, the Beatles released their 5th album, "Help!" In the UK, it was released on Parlophone Records with 14 song tracks. Unfortunately, I purchased the North America released "Help!" movie soundtrack album (photo of my album cover above) on Capitol records which did not contain all 14 songs from the original album but did contain some other tracks that were in the movie.

Most songs do not begin with the song title as the very first thing you hear when the song begins. But "Help!" does just that. I find that very appropriate.

I like everything about the song. It gets straight to the point. It's pretty simple like many of the Beatles' early songs. It has great instrumentation and harmonies.

But it also speaks some powerful truth. And it speaks to something many, if not most of us, have a hard time doing... asking for help.

From our earliest years as toddlers we yearn to become more and more independent. And parents of teenagers can give testimony to how that continual process brings challenges into family relationships. In Western culture, we are conditioned to not want to be seen as needing help except in the most innocuous or widely commonplace ways. From my experience and observation, men especially struggle with asking for help. It might partially explain some of the things we see occur all around us that can be dysfunctional on one end of the scale or can be fatal on the other. We see it frequently... somebody didn't seek out help or, if they did, they didn't receive what was needed.

We all need some help. I'm no different.

Those of you that read my amateur and infrequent blog know about my wife's dementia. I've shared in earlier blogs some of what that looks like and I've shared some PSA type info from our experience and my observations.

I've known for quite a while now that caregiving is hard and can grind you down. And, as disease progression continues, it gets even harder and can be more of a grind. Many of us that are providing care for a loved one know that we need help but, like me, many of us keep putting it off for any number of reasons. One reason is the hesitation to admit that we can't do it all ourselves. We can be uncomfortable asking for help.

The lyrics to the Beatles' song go like this:

"(Help) I need somebody

(Help) Not just anybody

(Help) You know I need someone

Help."

Those were the words that I kept postponing.

But, no more.

Two weeks ago I hired a caregiver to give me some much needed... help.

And, after entering our 3rd week, I'm dumbfounded that I waited so long.

Joanne is wonderful and is exactly the "somebody" that isn't just "anybody" but, she is exactly who I (and Carol) needed.

We all need some help. Ask for it or go get it.

Help! lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Listen to "Help" on YouTube

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