Ever listen to someone and their words ring inside your head, years later? A friend long since moved away, spoke to me in this way. They explained how bicycle riding repairs would present their need on the road. Being tasked with tackling them on the fly, passer-byes would inquire of needed assistance.
My friend spoke of riding their bicycle and wanting to quickly get a message across to someone stopped with their bicycle. It should include their physical well-being, the condition of their bike, their access or need for tools or expertise; presented in one, conscience sentence:
Do you have what you need?
Isn’t that just beauty? Such a small statement encompassing a vast array of needs. I’ve been taught to ask open-ended questions to spark conversation, but sometimes a well-worded yes or no is all that is needed.
Someone looking overwhelmed with groceries? “Do you have what you need?”
A person with octopus arms attempting to wrangle rowdy kids? “Do you have what you need?”
A brief question for the times we feel pulled to help, structured in a way to intervene or keep away. “Do you have what you need?”
Maybe we don’t ever have everything, but in the hard moments, we can think of specific ways a little help could mean the world.
Next time you see someone and you are unsure whether or not to offer assistance, the simple phrase “Do you have what you need?” can be the best solution.
