[Jenaya]

Is it just me, or does anyone else have trouble with this? I seem to always find time for everyone and everything but myself. My New Years Resolution was to get healthy and in order to do that it meant looking after "me first". Is it just a trait of being a woman that we caretake everyone else and whatever is left over we give to ourselves? Today, I exercised my right to put myself first. I scheduled an hour out of the day to exercise. I was just getting started and a friend called in a usual state of distress and needing support. Once I found out it was not a life or death issue, I told her I would call her back. She was a little taken aback that I was not giving her my undivided attention and I felt pangs of pure guilt that I wasn't there for her but at the same time I knew if I didn't do my exercise then I would not get the chance to do it later. It is interesting to see how others react when we change and it is even more interesting for me to see that I feel guilty when I try and take care of myself. Hopefully this is something I will get over. Has anyone else faced a little resistance from friends as you try and change to look after yourself?

[Monkeybabies]

not so much from my friends....but myself.....KWIM...I feel guilty...how sad is that? I am glad you scheduled time for yourself...good for you!!!!

[Step]

I hear you. And again, it's not only what people think, it's what I feel. I send myself on guilt trips. And I think it is a female trait. I really don't have an answer for you, but you aren't alone.

[1fralick]

You did an awesome thing for yourself by assessing the situation and then keeping the commitment you made to yourself!!

[boiaby]

I know that I have experienced this and I am sure most of the others have as well. I've been told that I am selfish and that I should be putting my family first and myself second. Well I now know that it is o.k. and that I have to put myself first if I want to be a good mother, wife, & friend. Do what you have to do for your "my" time. Others will come to accept it and eventually respect you more for it. I say turn off the ringer, lock the doors and take every minute of your alloted time. You owe it to yourself and you deserve it.

Beverly

[glynne]

Don't feel guilty about taking care of yourself. By doing so, you are taking care of them in a round about way. If you do not take care of yourself, you will not be in good health to be able to take care of/help them.

Gayle

[mthrgoos68]

I think this is a great topic because it does affect so many of us. As women, wives, sisters, daughters, mothers, and friends, we put everyone else first. We want to take care of those around us, but we forget to take care of ourselves. That was the big difference for me this time too, was to put myself first sometimes. Not to let anything interfere with my workout time in the mornings. I had even been doing some work in our church office a few mornings a week and I quit doing it when it started interfering with my workout time. There are just times when we have to put ourselves first and take care of ourselves or we aren't good to take care of anyone else.

Someone reminded me once that when you're on an airplane and they're giving you the takeoff instructions, they tell you that if the air mask comes down, you put yours on first and then you put your them on your children. If you don't take care of yourself first, then you may not be any good to help them and I think that sometimes we have to apply this to other areas of our lives as well.

[chequitagirl]

AMEN!!!!!!! mthrgoose68. but then again better said than done. i think it is definately something that all women deal with. some just better than others.