I think one of the craziest things humans do is forget how to take care of themselves. In the midst of everything: Breathing, talking, loving, making friends, making enemies — all of it — we forget about ourselves. We forget that just like how we feel the need to take care of someone, we need to take care of ourselves, too. It’s a completely crazy concept when you actually think about it.
We don’t think we’re worth it. Or, perhaps it’s that we forget that we are. There are little things to help us take care of ourselves that we take for granted. Showers, fresh air, blue skies, a gentle breeze. Coffee, flowers, a group of solid friends, good music too. The first sip of water of the day, the beach at sunset — the list goes on and on. There are little moments here and there where we remember how amazing these small luxuries are, but then we always go back to the grind of life. There are far too many things being thrown our way. Trying to prepare ourselves for the rest of our lives, as well as trying to take care of the ones around us — that can get tiring.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that people who say taking care of other people is tiring makes them selfish. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s not. Being everyone else’s rock when you barely have your own is a tough job. Making sure that everyone is content when you are falling apart does not make you a good person. It does not make you as selfless as you think. Do not tear yourself apart to hold others up; that won’t work for very long. Eventually you’ll just crumble. Break. Cease to remember what it ever felt like to have someone on your side.
The one person that you will have forever is yourself. So, with that being said, why wouldn’t you love yourself? Why wouldn’t you do everything in your power to preserve the beauty and sacred temple that you are? And you don’t have to give up taking care of everyone else, as long as you take care of yourself too.
There are some ground rules that we can’t seem to understand. When taking care of someone else, sometimes the best thing to do is just listen. You can’t physically help everyone, but you can be there for them emotionally. There are times where you can’t do anything at all. You can’t expect everyone to worship the ground you walk on because you’re there for them. "Orange is the New Black" said it best in a quote, “You can’t spend your whole life holding the door open for people and then being angry they didn’t say thank you. Nobody asked you to hold the f---ing door.”
Drive with the windows down, and take in your surroundings. Make time for a warm bath or shower, with your favorite candles. Make time for your friends and family. Make time for yourself, read a book, watch a movie, take a nap. Do whatever it takes to make sure you’re OK. Open the door when you are strong enough to hold it open.
We often forget to take care of ourselves because we are too busy taking care of others. It’s a crazy concept; it’s also not something we like talking about. Realizing this doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you stronger.
