BE A LITTLE SELFISH - Brittlestar’s Weekly Newsletter - Issue #42
I HAVEN’T LAUGHED THIS MUCH IN AGES…
Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath are my guests on this week’s podcast. Get it at ReallyGreatPodcast.com or wherever you get podcasts
BE A LITTLE SELFISH
I’m not a big Oprah fan.
I mean, I did watch her show pretty much everyday the summer of ‘89 when I fell off that cliff (have I told you that story?) but when she stopped the salacious and traumatic shows, I stopped watching.
However there is one thing I remember her saying that has stuck with me. I’m paraphrasing here…
You need to be 100% before you can give any of yourself to someone/something else.
It’s true. It’s also like the flight attendant speech that tells you to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping someone else.
I’ve been fairly stressed out recently. That kind of stress that is quiet and kind of in the background but constantly compounding until one day it decides to pull the emergency brake.
My stress/anxiety is caused by the usual stuff… uncertainty. There’s no way to avoid that stress/anxiety triggering uncertainty in life. The more you think about anything, you more you realize this whole game is rather wobbly.
So, what to do?
Be a little selfish.
I’m not suggesting that you ignore other people and your responsibilities… but that’s also exactly what I’m suggesting you do… occasionally and as needed.
To enjoy life…
To be the best you…
To help others…
You MUST put yourself first every now and then.
I have to remind myself to do that.
I did it this past few weeks with some visits to the doctor (I’m fine).
I did it this weekend. There were a bunch of things I could have been doing, but I decided (with Shannon’s help) that I needed some time doing exactly, and only, what I wanted to do. For me, this weekend, that meant a quiet pub lunch.
It was a little selfish… but if I want to be of any use to anyone, I need to make sure I’m 100%.
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Author enjoys selfish pub lunch to ensure his future value to others