Why do others demands on my time always seem to usurp my own? Do you feel that way?

Or, is it just me?

And, when I stand up for myself to address my needs first, people feel offended. What’s up with that?

I’m a firm believer in personal accountability and standing up for yourself. Does that make me any less of a person than anyone else? When people say that I have to stand up for Democracy, or feel righteous indignation about the plight about frogs in the Bornean rainforest, or feel bad about the treatment of some group of people somewhere in the world, or support some group raising money to fight a disease or right a wrong, or…you name it, will I? Yes, I will.

Will I suffer to make a “statement?” Probably not. I don’t know.

I do know that I have to save something for myself – to live and sustain the fire that burns inside of me that makes who I truly am. Society that feeds off of it’s human life-blood can’t survive for long without caring for it’s own substance. Yes, self-care.

This past week, a colleague told me that I “shouldn’t take things personally.” That phrase is crap. Whatever something is has to start off by being personal. Too many people (including this colleague) use that statement to silence a person’s response and allow them to be walked on in any particular situation. I don’t buy that b.s. and I will call them on it.

Am I wrong?