So during an interview the other day, my partner offered a candidate a cup of tea and the candidate accepted. It's funny but seeing something this simple was kind of shocking to me. I guess the problem is, I'm in a mindset where I don't like to cause work for other people. I'd rather turn down their offer of something I want, than impose upon them in the slightest.
It's reminiscent of a book I read, "15 Minutes in Heaven" or something along those lines. In the book, the narrator talked about how he got in a devastating car accident and was completely crippled in the hospital. Despite being a person who devoted his life to helping others and seeking to serve them, the man was incapable of accepting other peoples invitations to do friendly gestures for him and to allow them to help himself. When someone would offer him a book or a drink or anything, he would immediately turn them down.
Finally, a visiting friend looked at the man and said "Listen, these people are offering their help to you because they want to help you. You are being selfish by refusing their help and by believing you can do everything on your own."