Why at the young age of 19 is wanting to focus on yourself such a bad thing? I've found that I've asked myself that question a lot lately.

For such a long time, I have let others' wants and needs dictate my life. I've decided to change that and if that makes me "selfish", then so be it. Now is the time to spend on yourself; to do what's best for you. In a few years, we won't have the luxury of being able to focus on our own lives or even have the time to do so. That doesn't mean that you should be throwing out your respect for others and only making time for you. It simply means that you will not put all your time and effort into something that no longer makes you happy.

To those of you who think that choosing myself first is selfish, I am sorry that you feel that way. You are entitled to your own opinion, but please do not ridicule me for mine. If this is what's best for me, then why shouldn't I do it? I have done so much to make others happy that I lost sight of myself along the way. Taking the time to figure out who I am and what I want to be is part of the process of growing up. It's the time to take chances and make mistakes, and more importantly do it on my own.

It's the time to be independent and be comfortable being so.

Everyone's life experience is different. Maybe not everyone needs time for themselves in order to feel like they've figured out who they are and I completely respect that. Again, everyone is different. Allow me to take the opportunity and make the most out of it instead of shaming me for it. People will come and go out of your life and it's important that you choose do what makes you the best version of yourself.

It's never selfish to take the time to learn to love yourself.