Continuing the metaphor

I've given more thought to the clean hands metaphor.

you have to be willing to accept the help.

I've had people close to me, on several occasions, over the span of many years, do things that hurt themselves, and when you reach out to them, they hurt you, or punish you, or make you feel like an idiot, because they feel guilty, or ashamed, or a mess, or whatever... they push and push you away, and then when you finally put your hands up and say fine, you can do it yourself, then for some reason they turn around and say that no one ever helps them. They become my least favorite thing to become. Indignant.

again I have been on both sides of this

It's a terrible dance we all seem to do. It's worse than the Elaine.

what's it about?

is it just pride? I think it might be. Or is it sadness and guilt pent up with pride? Seems to be a lethally passive aggressive combination.

I think I am too independent sometimes. I've had to do most everything for myself in my little life, so when there is an opportunity to allow a set of clean hands, not in printmaking (i'll always take those), but in life, I think that I rarely do. In this case, not out of guilt, or sadness, but more like... are you saying that I can't do this myself?

because I can...

It's a fine line though, like most things it seems. I am alone and must continue to do things and make things happen for myself, but I also have to be willing to step outside of that and maybe even ask for help on occasion...

we have to remember that we are not above help.