I don't know about you, but I am an overly self-conscious selfie taker. After seeing the above picture, you can understand why.

I never can get the right light, angle, expression, or filter. Even on the days my makeup is on point and my hair bellows in all the colors of the wind almost as perfectly as Pocahontas', I still can't seem to get the perfect selfie. Or on those days my skin for once in a millennium is actually clear, my eyebrows are on fleek, and I feel confident enough to take the no make-up selfie, once I flip the phone around and look at the picture, "Eeewww..." or "Ehhh..." is still my initial reaction. Ooo or the classic no makeup, hardcore, sweaty, like-a-boss, mid-workout selfie... yea no one sees that other than my best friend.Once in a blue moon, I get the nerve to post a semi-decent selfie..like the time I got my acceptance letter from grad school. Or on my twenty-second birthday. Or when I am surrounded by good friends or my incredible family. Basically, anytime there is something to distract from my actual face.

So why the incessant rambling about my self-conscious selfie habits?

This past weekend I realized that the way I view taking selfies is the way I viewed self-care. When it comes to taking care of myself, in the emotional and mental sense, I almost feel guilty. Throughout the week I serve about ten different therapists, two other office workers, a billing manager, and of course the close to one hundred or so clients that come through our office doors each week, in addition to the potential clients I speak with over the phone. When not at work, I assist my grandparents in their home, volunteer at my church, occasionally speak at churches and conferences on the weekends. As of this next week, I begin grad school classes online for a Master's degree in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in Church Planting with hopes of one day founding my own non-profit organization. Basically, I love people and want to help them any way I can.

Which is all good and what not... to some degree. But if at the end of the day, I don't take the necessary time to make sure I am taken care of, I will burn out entirely. I'm learning that the only person who will make sure that this will actually happen is, well, me. As I type that, there is a slight feeling of guilt. Is that really allowed? Am I being entirely narcissistic? But honestly, no.

It is critical we find the happy medium of caring for others and caring for ourselves. Not too heavy on either end. Pouring out and being poured into. Giving and taking. One of my undergrad professors always used to say, "It is not your responsibility to fill the cup of those you serve, however, it is your responsibility to empty yours." I would add to that, it is also your responsibility to make sure you're poured back into. Be it by time with friends, an evening of solace by yourself, dinner with family, a relaxing date with your significant other, or carving out the time to journal, read your Bible and pray. Do it.

So this weekend, this self-conscious selfie taker took time to take care of herself. Yes, I would have loved to spend a few hours with my best friends, but they had other plans. Despite that, I was provided the confidence to simply take care of me. I slept in a few hours. Ran two miles instead of one. Ordered a medium iced caramel coffee as opposed to the small, as I caught up with an old friend. Made new friends with the ladies from the office as we bonded over incredible Indian cuisine, gourmet cupcakes, and chasing a toddler through the streets of downtown Athens. We laughed hysterically over the "Cheesecake: pie or cake?" debate, Siri faux pas, rogue baby pacifiers, and my lack of car seat installation knowledge. Saturday I spent an ample amount of time with my grandparents and did prep work for grad school. Finally rented "Mockingjay: Part Two" from Red Box. Stopped to take a whiff of gorgeous red roses in the grocery store. And bought myself my favorite white chocolate. Took a long drive into the sunset down the back roads of my small town as I blared my favorite Spotify playlist. It was simply lovely.

I encourage you to do the same, my friend. Take time to care for you. Go on an adventure. Cook your favorite dish. Watch your all-time favorite movie. Buy yourself those roses. Take that selfie...with confidence.

Look out for others. But also look out for you.

With that being said, here, my friends, is a semi-confident selfie from yours truly,

The Super Self-Conscious Selfie Taker