Advice | Carolyn Hax: Is it weird to ask other people to care about you?

Hi, Carolyn: How do you strike a balance between asking for what you need in relationships and understanding that how people act basically tells the story?

For example, if I am sick, I want to be checked in on. Or I want people to ask me how I’m doing. Or I want them to say something nice about a work thing I show them.