I have needed more assistance from public officials, than ever before. I suppose that’s not surprising (severe brain injury = increased assistance needed) and yet, it’s taken me many years to get used to this, as I’ve always been an incredibly successful & independent being. Also very humble 😉
An experience with grand assistance (although not necessary) was, no doubt, extremely embarrassing:
The smoke alarm went off in my last apartment in West Seattle, and when I opened my apartment door, to allow the smoke to dissipate, I (uknowingly, well until the smoke alarms went off!) set off the whole building’s smoke alarms, and therefore, evacuated all of the residents.
This entire mini-drama was due to the smoke created while I was cooking! (I burnt a piece of toast: that’s all. I have no toaster, & was, therefore, cooking a piece of bread directly on a (freshly cleaned) burner. I got distracted, looked away, & sent the toast up in flames. ( well, I didn’t see any flames truthfully, but the burnt toast, makes me assume there were some.)
The rationale for the fire department being called: I lived in a brand new building & the smoke alarms were therefore extremely sensitive. The smoke alarms went off in the whole building! As a result, all of the residents from my building were evacuated. 
1 of the firemen, who came to my door, was extremely gentle with my (obviously) shattered ego. When I told both of them both, that nothing was on fire, the cause was simply burnt food, he responded by telling me: “This happens very often. These are a large percentage of the calls we get.”
That pacified me substantially.
Since then, I’ve been particularly cognizant of respecting those that help me, in any way.
The individuals that work at the businesses I frequent (the cafe in which I’m writing this now, which is a regular work spot for me ((I have wifi @ home, but a cafe compliments wifi with social stimulus. Aaaand I love the people that work @ cafe ladro)))
Today the barista introduced herself, which instigated introductions from her 2 co-workers. It’s lovely to know the people making my vanilla lattes (or, let’s be real, since I have no paid employment), now, this ex-swanky restaurant ex-waitress, is ordering, and has learned to doctor, drip coffee.
Even more important to my well being => a kind & thoughtful woman, (whom I spoke with on the phone, to clarify my eligibility for food assistance, provided by the government), was exceedingly helpful to me, in part, I believe, as a result of the respect that I rightly showed her.
People whose jobs is specifically to assist individuals that are incapable of assisting themselves, is very honorable.
I value this work greatly, as it is extremely selfless & heroic. I attempt to repay them, (not nearly equally – that’s beyond my capability) with respect & acknowledgement of the nobel & substantial part they play in my life.