A lil story to help you keep your head up

[Dirt_Wizard]

@Rogue

Paradoxically enough, once you really start caring about yourself you become a nicer person.
So be selfish! Put yourself first!
It’s like what they say in the safety instructions on airplanes; put on your own oxygen mask first, then help others if necessary.
Can’t help anyone when you’re drowning.
Take care of yourself everyone.
You’re worth it.

We don’t always agree, but I think you’re 100% correct with this, and it was a long and hard lesson for me to learn, one that has only been rewarding and healing since I managed to internalize it. The oxygen mask metaphor is one I use all the time, other one is that if you and a friend both get shot at the same time, you’re going to stop your bleeding before you help them, even if they’re your best friend, because you know you might otherwise die before you manage to save them. The same is true in much less dire and life-threatening circumstances too, kindness and forgiveness to myself for years of alcoholism and broken relationships and body parts has made it much easier to enter every day with more of a positive but grounded outlook on things and the ability to meet people with kindness instead of fear.