In the world we live in today, doing things to benefit yourself is overlooked. Almost everything we do is in direct correlation to someone else and their needs. We dress nice to impress others, we go to work and do what our boss says, we come home and cook dinner for someone else, we say what we think others want to hear and go places others want to go, but why? Why do we think that we need to please everyone but ourselves? Why do we think we need to bend over backwards to balance all of our daily tasks to please those people?
I never fully understood the phrase "bending over backwards" until recently. Moms are the ultimate description of this. They really do do absolutely everything and anything to keep the house running smoothly while keeping everyone happy, and my mom in particular is such a clear picture of this.
My mom used to always tell my brother and me that she bent over backwards for us anytime we made her angry. I understood the point she was making (we needed to be grateful) but I really started to understand it when I realized that I'm constantly bending over backwards for others now.
I am constantly busy. I have a never-ending to-do list and am always running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get everything accomplished for the week because I can't say no to anything. I overbook myself to the point that I am gone from my apartment all day long and sometimes have more than one place to be at the same time.
Over the past week, though, I have had so much more free time, and it's like I'm living a different life. Being able to shower at normal times in the day, cook food rather than order out, and get to bed before 1 a.m. were like privileges I was never aware of. How crazy is that?
Moral of the story: do what you want! If you want to take a day off to watch Netflix in the bathtub all day, do it! Say no for once, it won't be the end of the world! Make yourself a real dinner and go to bed before midnight.
Do what makes you happy and think about only yourself for once, because there's nothing wrong with that. Putting yourself first from time to time is different than being selfish; it's a mindset.
Do the things you do because you want to, not because you have to. Yes, that meeting is required, but it's also a great opportunity to have your voice heard. Yes, that homework is due at midnight on a Saturday, but it's helping toward the degree you want. Stay positive while you tackle that long to-do list this week and schedule in some much-needed time for yourself.
