I have always been the kind of person who puts her friends first before school work, who puts anything before thinking of herself. After a while, I realized that people were taking advantage of that and I noticed that I never really had time for myself. I started to break the habit of always being selfless and thus, started becoming selfish.
The term 'selfish' has always had a negative connotation to it, but we forget that it is okay to be that way when we need it. I love to be there for people, I love to make people laugh, I love to listen to what people have to say, but I realized not many people were reciprocating. Not a lot of people were there for me, to listen to me, to make me laugh. I became upset and distant and I turned to my parents for help. As much as we need human interaction, we do not need people ALL the time. My parents taught me to be there for myself. They taught me to make myself laugh. They taught me to be my own friend and to listen to myself (journaling really helps with this).
Do not get me wrong, I think being selfless is great, but why not be both? Why not learn to be half and half? I believe that we are put on this planet to help people and to care for others. The reality is that not everyone in this world are going to be that way. Not everyone is going to care or to befriend you or to hug you when you cry. All of these things are harsh to hear but it is the truth, but we have the choice of what to do with that truth: we use it to make us stronger or let it tear us down.
We have the ability to be our own person, to be our own companion, caretaker, etc. I can say from experience that I truly do not know how strong I can be until I am ill and do not have anyone to take care of me. It is scary to be on your own but it is an even greater feeling to know that you are able to fend for yourself. I have been in situations where I am sick and people expect me to do things or be somewhere but when the tables are turned, suddenly they cannot make it or they cannot do something because of how they feel. This is where my selfishness comes in because I am always the person that ends up doing things regardless of how I feel and other people get off easy. So now, I am learning to take time for myself.
So in your own life, make sure to care about yourself, to have self love, and to be in control of yourself. All of these lessons are necessary in order for us to grow and if we can follow these three rules, our world will be a better place. #BeSomebody
