Helping People Move

There's a consistent joke in our culture about helping people move. Its like that episode of Seinfeld (which so much of life is), where they discuss helping someone move being a big step in a relationship. I think part of that is true. I certainly don't ask casual or work friends to help me do things that are not going to be fun or enjoyable at all. I've had to ask friends to help me move, build fences, move drywall around, put up drywall, move dirt, etc. I always feel like a jerk for asking because I know they might feel obligated to help. If they are good friends, though, I feel a little bit better about it. They know I will return the favor whenever. Because, truth be told, I kinda like helping people move and build fences or a deck, etc. I think, since moving to Colorado, I have helped people move at least seven times. That's not that much, I know, but it seems like a lot.

There's a few things I enjoy about the experience that all might seem very silly, but I will expound upon them anyway.

1. Its a great workout. I don't do a lot of heavy lifting or use the strength I have to do much with other than run and lift some more weights at the gym. I enjoy the workout aspect of lifting and moving furniture and boxes. Its a test of my abilities as human being. Can I lift this ridiculous piano my friend never mentioned? Hell yeah I can lift a piano! After helping someone move I always feel drained, but good, like I just did some great work for my body. Though it always seems like you hit your elbow or get a dead leg from the corner of an entertainment center and go home with a bruise of scar somehow. I don't want to drone on about how good it feels for me to pick up huge things and feel like a man, but its the truth. I enjoy the challenge of it to see where my fitness is at. If I can't lift the couch, I need to get in the gym.

2. The puzzles involved. When you are moving someone there's always a few puzzles you have to figure out. How are we going to get this couch into the door way? How are we going to move the dryer upstairs?  Those are always interesting problems to try and figure out with a bunch of guys who are huffing and puffing and obligatorily complaining about how heavy and stupid all their friend's furniture is. What I really enjoy is loading U-Hauls. I see it like a 3D game of Tetris. I've always enjoyed this. I think it stems back to helping my dad pack the family van for a two week road trip, trying to figure out how to fit the tents and sleeping bags and clothes and books, etc. It was always a big puzzle. You learned to see gaps and how to stack things. I moved my wife and I out here to Colorado from Illinois in a van, two Saturn Vues, and a Cavalier. I gathered all of our stuff, laid it out in the garage, and began packing up all four vehicles. A couple beers and several hours later, the vehicles were packed with no room to spare, but expertly organized. I try to stay out by the U-Haul when moving people out and play the game.

3. The jokes and stories. When helping my friend Mike move into his home, my good friends and I discovered you could add "That's what she said" to pretty much everything you say while moving someone. Think about it for a minute. I won't write examples. I'm sure you get it. Anyways, that was a mistake. Its really hard to move a dresser up stairs while giggling. It was incredibly immature and very fun. Another time I was helping my buddy Jarid move out of his apartment. It was late after work and we didn't have much time because he had to get the U-Haul back. We got into fast a furious mode and at one point we were just throwing things into his huge U-Haul, not looking at where they landed. Run down stairs, throw a sack of clothes, turn around before they landed, get another load. We were doing this so rapidly one of his neighbors called the cops because they thought we were robbing the place. Not all moves are fun. Many portions suck. But there's usually a good story or two to laugh about later or at least you can give your friend shit about their stupid piano for at least a few years afterwards.

4. The free food. What most people offer when you help them move is some free food. In the morning there's coffee, donuts,breakfast burritos, etc. Afternoons usually involve pizza and beer. To me, this is worth it. I love me some free junk food. Plus, you're burning so many calories, you can eat a bunch of pizza and have a few beers. You need to replace those calories... right? But its not a lie. I do love the free food. I will work for food.

5. You become better friends. This may sound too hippy dippy or melodramatic, but I think when you help someone do something like move, or build a fence, or drywall, or anything tough and physical you make a stronger bond with that person. While it might seem a trivial task, you have both been through something difficult together and you (the person who's there volunteering) have given up your time and energy for the benefit of another person and almost no benefit to you. That's a sacrifice that others can appreciate. I helped a not-so-close friend move the other day. Our wives are pretty close, thus my services were offered. I didn't mind. I would like to be better friends with them and hang out more. I saw it as an opportunity. I stayed until very late helping move furniture around. I know they appreciated it and I just thought of the help I would need if I was in the same situation.


All in all, I think we need to get over ourselves and fear of helping others move or do difficult things. Instead of excuses and reasons not to help, we should do the opposite. Be available. Jump at the chance. Help when asked. They took a chance even asking, knowing they are asking you to give up free time to move other people's lives around. Its good for the body and can be good for the soul. Even if you have to lift a piano.