I’ve always been the type of person who tries to be a people pleaser. I like to see people smile, I like to hear people laugh, and it’s even better when you’re the person causing their happiness. I’ve always been the type of person who goes out of their way to make sure that people are okay, especially for my friends and family.

However, I’ve slowly realized that while I am always there for everyone, whether you’re stranger or my best friend, but when I need something, nobodies there for me. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m the one people always go to when they need advice, so they don’t expect me to ever need mending or reassurance, or some other reason; but realizing this has caused me to accept the fact that I don’t always need to be the person who constantly bends over backwards for others. I realized that I have to start bending over backwards for myself.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to say no to people when you don’t want to do things, I’ve learned how to cope with things on my own, and I’ve learned about myself when I stopped putting everyone else's lives above mine. I don’t regret the things I’ve done to please the people around me, in fact I still look back and smile because I was able to help somebody, but now I’m at the point in my life where I need to look back and smile because I was able to help myself.

So while I still get ecstatic when I please people, help people, make them laugh until they cry, or whatever else may happen concerning others well-being, I am just as ecstatic when I am able to do things for myself. If I can please myself by accomplishing my goals, help myself, and continue to remain a happy person, I’ll have all that I’ll need to keep me going.

So, yes, people pleasers, it’s OK to put yourself for once, because you’ll actually realize how life changing it may be.