A Radical Act of Self-Priority

It’s obviously in human nature that most of the time we would be looking out for ourselves. Everyone wants the best for themselves and there’s no denying that. However, there are exceptions and these include instances where you are a parent. Here you have to be responsible for your kids, your partner and even your family members. This also applies to when you are a leader.

Most of the time being in some situations make you start to not think only of yourself but also of others. I’m sure we have all been at that a stage before and if I’m being honest, it doesn’t get exhausting at time. Growing up, I saw how much my parents sacrificed for my siblings and I. You know your dad wants to get that car or your mom wants to get that posh bag but then your school fees has to be paid and mommy or daddy has to put their wants and sometimes needs aside just to make sure you are okay. I sometimes sit and wonder those they’re able to do go all out for us but I guess that’s the responsibility that comes with being an adult.

I stand firmly on the principle that we all have to be selfish for our own benefits sometimes. It’s good to be that person who goes all out for others but sometimes it’s just a just that you do things for you and you alone. There are days I call my mom and tell her to go out and have some fun. Leave every responsibility behind and get a break because she needs it. A day or two away from home won’t kill anyone, they will survive. But years and years of endless work and ups and downs might probably land you in the hospital.

For so long I’ve been a selfless person but then I started to realize that being selfless should have its limits and I came to this realization somewhere last year when I couldn’t come through for a someone I was close to and chose to gaslight and ragebait for not breaking my back for them. Those days, my mom advised me to forget about it because I had done my best and from then, I knew it was time to be selfish for myself.

Everyday, I do something selfish for myself and myself alone because why not. I used to be a people’s pleaser but now, I saw no when I want to. I refuse to over do for others things I wouldn’t even do for myself on a normal day. If it’s something out of my control, I wound not kill myself for you. If there’s one selfish thing I did for myself recently, it would be me choosing to spend the Christmas holidays away from home.

I really wanted to spend the holidays at home with my family but I knew that as much as it was a good thing for me, I needed to spend those holidays alone, exploring and doing the things that I love. It had been a long year for me and a lot had happened. I really needed that time alone and even though my family wanted me to spend the entirety of it with them, I chose to spend half of it with them and the other half doing what I do best and as selfish as it sounded, I found a way to meet them in the middle without also neglecting myself and my needs in the process.

No one is going to go all out for you as much as you will for yourself. So why not have the best time of your life now. Be as selfish as you can about yourself but that doesn’t mean you should neglect others. There’s always a way to find a balance.

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all images belong to me.

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