Why I’m a “generally helpful person”

In 2014 I was creating new name-cards for myself, and I had a major problem.

I had no idea how to tell people what I do.

I make Art, but I also teach. I curate exhibitions, but I also help to man booths at book fairs. I do serious, long projects of my own, but I’ve also helped grassroots theatre productions overhaul their Wordpress.

So I stopped thinking about what I do, and instead I thought long and hard about how I end up doing those random things.

People ask me to help ==> I help.

People ask for help all the time. Unless the help requested is misaligned to my values, I would always agree to contribute in whatever capacity I have.

Sometimes the final outcome can be very imperfect. My help can’t fix a solution that is fundamentally flawed, or poorly executed.

But for every instance where my help was inconsequential, there were many others that become opportunities for me to learn about new things.

Helpfulness is stigmatised.

Our instincts tell us that helping others come at a personal cost.

In the 1600s, “the help” was used as a euphemism for servants of a lower standing.

People who are in a position of less power are asked to “help”. In contrast, people who hold more power are asked to “advise” or “consult”.

Let’s change that.

Helping keeps us connected and grounded to the work that we do, and it increases our sense of responsibility to the things we influence.

Make helpfulness great again 🙌

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