Selfish: /ˈselfiSH/ (Of a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure. -- (Oxford English Dictionary)
Selfish: When you have a huge amount of interest invested in yourself, or when you don't think about the wants and needs of others. -- (Urban Dictionary)
I'll be the first to say it: I'm selfish.
I think about myself constantly. I'm obsessed with Pinterest inspirational phone wallpapers. My Instagram feed is filled with empowering female fitness bloggers that drown my morning social media spam in motivation. I have #BossBabe quotes on sticky notes all around my room reminding me that I'm a #GoalDigger and that my mission is to make an income while making an impact.
Is it obnoxious?
Yes.
Am I sorry?
No.
This is the time to be selfish. I define "selfish" as the fine line between loving others and loving yourself just enough.
Not only am I selfish, I want to be.
This is the time to figure out what you want to do and chase after it without fear. This is the time to love yourself.
Since we were little, we were told to put other's needs before ours. Our generation is moving towards empathy, but that doesn't mean that we have to hold up other people's dreams before our own. We should be encouraged to flourish in our own goals just as much as we should support others in theirs.
I am a college freshman majoring in theatre. Theatre. Maybe something more secure like business or science would have scared my parents less, but I decided to do what was best for me. I want a career where I fall in love with what I do every single day; to be continually inspired by it. There are too many people in the world that get caught up in being comfortable, ignoring what they really want to do and not enough people out there doing what they want.
So here it is again: I'm not sorry for being selfish and neither should you.
Your dreams and hopes and wishes are just as valid as anyone else's. If you love business, do it. If you love theatre, do it. It is never too late to change your mind and do what's best for you. Yes, love others, but don't forget to love yourself and everything that makes you, you.