I've Fallen and I don't Want to Get Up!

When a friend has fallen and can’t get up you have two basic choices with several variations each.

You can either leave them on the floor or help them up. All you benevolent little eager beavers say in a chorus, “help them up! Help them up!” I say that there is a lot to consider here. First of all there is generally a reason that they fell. Balance, intoxication or an obstacle like a wall that leapt out in front of them or something? If you are not going to be around long enough to make sure they don’t fall again you definitely should NOT help them up. They could break a hip or something on the next fall. There is a lot of responsibility in helping someone back up so be careful.

The other option is to leave them on the floor. Sounds callous but maybe not. You could just walk away and pretend you don’t know them; But. Remember I said this is a friend. Maybe you could sit down there beside them till they feel better or something like that. Tell them jokes or entertain them until they can get up on their own. If you tell really bad jokes or pass gas they will want to get up quicker. Whatever the case inspiration is better than a helping hand. Once they have decided that they can get up on their own there’s nothing wrong with a hand to steady them.

Society has fallen and doesn’t want to get up. Careful how you help them.

tonyh