Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork

There I am, standing at the top of a ladder, about 20 feet from the ground. I am so confident that I could put this large bounce house up on the garage shelf for my friend. She is afraid of heights, but I am not and am happy to help her.

I get ready to set it in place, but it slips slightly. I don’t drop it, but I don’t have the best grip on it and the other items on the shelf have now shifted. I try again, unsuccessful. At this point, it is getting heavier. My friend stops talking and asks, “Are you okay?” I then hear her say, “Keep breathing.” I don’t realize I am holding my breath, hoping one more push will put the bounce house on the shelf.

Gratefully my friend doesn’t waste any time, comes up the ladder, and we make that last push together. With her help, we get the bounce house onto the shelf, even though the bounce house has somehow grown in the last few minutes.

So why did I feel it necessary to do this task on my own? Was it to come to the aid of my friend who had just lost her husband to cancer? Was it to prove I was strong enough? Perhaps both. I was there wanting and willing to help ease her burden. Instead, I almost dropped it potentially breaking something or hurting someone.

Why didn’t I ask for help? There are many reasons we don’t ask for help. Sometimes we think it will be easier if we do it on our own, or it will be faster, or we think there is only one way to do it, or we don’t want to be a burden on someone else. Whatever the reason, how many times do we find ourselves taking on too much or not giving others opportunities to contribute?

I believe we have many good intentions to help others. As we look around us, it isn’t hard to see someone who needs a willing heart and hand. There are many conflicts in society, so what are we doing to proactively help? Could it be as simple as using our voice, giving a helping hand, sharing our knowledge, or a combination of these?

Have you heard the phrase ‘many hands make light work’? We recently had a large amount of snowfall. I spent a good 45 minutes trying to shovel my driveway before heading out to a meeting. When I returned home a few hours later it looked as though I hadn’t shoveled at all.

I attempted to park in my garage, thinking I would go change and shovel my driveway again.

I didn’t make it too far before I was between the road and my driveway. After a few attempts, it became clear this approach was not working. I decided to go in and change into better snow shoveling attire and return to the stuck vehicle.

This time, I had the aid of my family and a very kind neighbor who came to the rescue.

Quickly, everyone grabbed shovels and started digging and pushing snow. What took me 45 minutes in the morning on my own was now done in 10 minutes. Thanks to my neighbor spotting me so I didn’t hit anything, I was able to move my car into the garage. Many hands make light work, and teamwork makes the dreamwork!

We each have so much to offer. Are we willing to share our efforts, talents, and knowledge to benefit others? Abraham Lincoln said, “Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower could grow.”

Are we also willing to accept help from others, or to ask for help? All of us can use help with something, so why not ask another person to help? We don’t have to carry things on our own, and we don’t have to pretend that we are something that we are not. Oftentimes, our ability to receive help can plant a flower for another that can help just as much or more than if we planted the flower ourselves.

Imagine the fields of flowers we would have if we all adopted this thinking in our families and communities! When we are willing to act by serving and receiving service from others, it is truly amazing to watch the magic happen internally and externally. Look around. Where can you “plant a flower” today?

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We believe that as we work as a team and collaborate many dreams will come true. As we unite in good, we can strengthen each other and the effects will be far-reaching by both our combined actions and voices. We would love for you to join us in making a difference for good in the world.