Choose Yourself For Yourself

Be selfish. Think for yourself.

Yes, I want you to place yourself first. As women, we are always taught and expected to place our needs after a long list of priorities. The society, family, husband, kids, street, culture …..

I am not telling you to go against your family or the opposite gender.

Learn to take small decisions. What to choose for dinner at a restaurant, what to buy from the garment store, what colours do you like? What flavour of ice cream do you like? What to do want to study? There is no need to relocate if family conditions don’t allow. There may be a course at the local college. Choose for yourself!

Teach yourself how to manage money and make investments. If possible, try to have an independent source of income. It is not necessary to see this as emergency money but you should have something which is your own, to be proud of.

Google. There is no need for enrolling in an expensive course. There are many free resources. The internet has opened up a plethora of options for employment. You can become an online retailer. There are so many women teaching cooking, sewing, baking , gardening etc on YouTube and that too in regional languages.

The family is important. Their needs are important. But you know that, if you don’t give priority to yourself, your feelings, your needs, even they start treating you the same way, like a  doormat, years down the line.

Pay attention to your health. Exercise. No need to join the gym. There are so many routines available online. You are young now. Leaving yourself behind may seem no big deal. But years down the line, you will think that I should have been a little strong. For my education, my life, my future, your security.

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If you have kids, love them. But don’t forget yourself. Keep up with your social circle, hobbies and friends. It will give you more happiness and satisfaction in the long run. You don’t want to be one of those women who lost herself in her children and burdened them with her unfulfilled desires. When the child does not listen, you say that, “I sacrificed so much for you and this is the way you repay me.” Your child has the right to an independent life and choice of career. Fulfil your desires so that the repressed frustrations don’t come out on your family later.

You will become lonely when your children will leave the nest. That will be the time your investments in your hobbies and social circle will pay out. A sudden emptiness will not engulf you. Keep yourself connected to the world.

Read newspapers.  Open that long ignored Facebook account. Reconnect with your childhood friends. Join the local club. Plan a trip sometimes with your friends. Take your supplements. Pay attention to your health. Have that yearly checkup. Wake up early and go for a walk. Put on some music. Be happy.

We teach people how to treat us by how we treat ourselves. Don’t ever let anyone disrespect you for your choices and lifestyle. Love yourself.

Image via Pixabay

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