Question Of The Day - Tuesday, April 9

Greetings! Happy Tuesday!












When people come to you for help or advice, what do they usually want help with?







Aside from my jobs (Where people naturally come to me for assistance or guidance, being a ballet teacher and Dior/Givenchy beauty advisor. Although I go get asked regularly outside of work too about fitness/crosstraining, makeup, technique/stretching, skincare etc) I often get approached frequently for social problems; from relationships, family, even about employees by bosses. With friends it is normal of course, but it's unexpected with coworkers and acquaintances as I don't seek it out myself, being the neutral introvert, it simply just happens - but glad to be an ear nevertheless if it makes people happy and I'm trusted!



Less commonly but still happens, I get asked about equine and pet related things.

Usually family stuff, husband stuff, and sometimes cat stuff.

I headed up Human Resources all of my career and so everyone came to me for advice - work and personal but mostly work. Now that I am retired it is mostly personal. I have found though that when people
come for any kind of advice, 98% of what they really want is someone to just listen and if you let them talk long enough they will sort out what they want to do for themselves.

Paperwork. I've helped family and friends over the years with issues about Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, health insurance, wills, etc. It's my superpower.

Normally friendship advice and relationship advice - I'm one of those who has never been in a relationship myself though often gives good relationship advice

Being in healthcare/physical therapy, I often get asked about what this booboo might be and what can they do about it.
I'm also known for being a cat person, so others who have cats ask me for kitty advice.
I also get asked a lot about what I do/eat because I'm skinny. And all I do is live a balanced life, nothing fancy going on here.
And for whatever reason, I seem to be the go to person that people (even those I don't know very well) love to tell their mental health related issues to. I'm not a professional, but I guess I give off a non-judgmental, good listening, calm quality (which I am, but I guess people sense it also) that attracts those who are suffering. I don't mind, but sometimes I don't have advice, as I said, I'm no professional. Thankfully, just listening often helps enough and the conversation ends without them explicitly asking what they should do, with me looking like this.

When people come to me for help they want money and I never get paid back. I have finally stopped handing out money.

Oh Lord, where to start? If their lawnmower/ snowblower/ car isn't working right; if they have problems around the house with plumbing or electrical systems- pretty much anything at all, because they know that 9 times out of 10 I can fix the problem.

NY cat man said:

Oh Lord, where to start? If their lawnmower/ snowblower/ car isn't working right; if they have problems around the house with plumbing or electrical systems- pretty much anything at all, because they know that 9 times out of 10 I can fix the problem.

Click to expand...

Ok so, I have a drainage issue with the plumbing from my washer and laundry tub, and my car is making a weird clunking noise.......

Jem said:

Ok so, I have a drainage issue with the plumbing from my washer and laundry tub, and my car is making a weird clunking noise.......

Click to expand...

Sorry, I'm retired.

Mostly parenting and child care, but sometimes sewing too.

Cats, Beauty/Skincare products, Vitamin/Herb advice

Cat stuff. Sometimes kid/baby stuff. Home design type stuff. I used to get asked for help with Word/Excel stuff. It's been a while.

I think I'm more likely to pick other people's brains than to have mine picked. I suppose it's a side effect of being introverted; people don't always think of you as full of information when you don't necessarily talk a lot in groups. Although I have one friend who used to text me every few months for a crab dip recipe. I was ready to print, laminate and frame it for her.

NY cat man said:

Sorry, I'm retired.

Click to expand...

Send em to youtube. It's saved DH and I plenty of times.

People usually come to me for personal or health related problems. They think I'm levelheaded or so I've been told. Working in special education young parents will also talk to me about their children. I always try to be supportive, listen and non-judgmental.

Dealing with depression or other mental illnesses is the main thing I get asked advice on from friends.

Well, cat stuff here too is a big one.
Second, is anything HR related which can run from personal relationships to medical problems to financial issues. I'm a good listener, non-judgemental (for the most part), usually can see both sides of issues and have been through enough in life to know how to navigate through a lot of life's problems of all types. The people I work with are mostly a lot younger than me and I suppose they view me as a bit of a parent substitute especially since many of their families are far away from them now.

Cat stuff and recipe stuff. I'll be at work and somebody will come in and say, "My cat is....! What should I do?"

Usually, somebody will ask me if I would share recipes for cookies. A woman asked me if I had a good recipe for lemon meringue pie. I have a recipe for a really good Honey Bun Cake that has been given out so many times that I think everybody in the building has it now. That and the Lemon Spongecake Cookies.

People tend to ask me about planning stuff and even questions about zoning: things like setbacks, coverage, etc. Even friends. If somebody is thinking about a garage or a shed, they'll call me, just to ask basic questions.

Personal problems in their life.

They usually want me to correct their English or proof read something for them, but I get the "I found a kitten, do you want it?" questions sometimes too.

(Of course I want him. He's a kitten. Give him here!)