"The Secret of the Well: Why You Should Come First"

In a busy city once lived a young girl named Sarah. Characterized by her generosity, always the first to help out a friend in need or someone struggling with an assignment. Sarah never refused, she loved me for it — wasn't that the heart of thoughtfulness? However, of late she felt a different inside. She was tired, so very tired and a little bit lost.

One fall night Sarah was moving through her to-do checklist in her intellect whilst strolling the vaccination booth. She drew the attention of an old man sitting down on a bench, feeding some squirrels. His face was shrewd and even, and there was a serenity in his eyes that caused Sarah to halt. She was somehow drawn to him.

"Sounds like you have a fix on your mind," he chuckled, offering her a seat.

Sarah whispered, squatting down in disbelief at how well the words slipped out. She explained to him just about her overwhelming life—how hustle for the remainder of the world created each day rush with no time or energy residue for herself. The man listened quietly, pointing at intervals, then finally spoke.

“Let me tell you a story,” he began, leaning in slightly and speaking with an unwavering voice.

"Once there was a town on the edge of an enormous desert, and in that town there lived a well which provided water for all. The villagers were grateful, but they took the well for granted, fetching water whenever they pleased. As time progressed the fatigued sphere was well and truly over — dried up. The villagers were too busy to notice, and it was only one day when they turned the handle and nothing came out".

Sarah scowled. “What happened to the well?” She asked, hearing something deeper.

The man stared hard at her. The well knew it was at a crossroads: give its last drops away and wither forever, or take a break, let the rain fill it back up and rise again.”

The story sank into the heart of Sarah, who became quiet and assumed a sense of poise.

You see, Sarah — much like the well itself we need time to refill. People may need your kindness, but you cannot give from an empty heart.

For a minute, she appeared to be there like in spirit but then was robbed by guilt of the goodness associated with her feelings. But isn't that being narrow minded? Behind only me for a change?

The man chuckled delicately. The well is refilling, so it can continue to provide water for the town…(How childish? Think around it. When you purge, there is nothing that you are giving your all for — not even yourself. But if you do take pause to refuel, you will emerge as a more loving and centered version of yourself.

She looked at him, and for a moment she felt sorry for the man. Maybe, just maybe, she had the right to place herself first and maintain her own desires.

He stood up eventually before she could ask him more, stretching his arms out. "Remember the world won't go dry simply because you wait to take care of yourself.”

And with that, he left; his steps echoing into the night. And Sarah sat, full in her heart and clear of mind for the first time as she saw finally the importance of filling your cup to overflowing neat so you might keep on giving out not with emptiness but from a place pouring over.

Sarah made a promise to simplify herself from that day forward, knowing doing as such would be the greatest blessing she could offer others.

Self-care is not selfish, it's a necessity. When you are taking care of your claim first, then able in its utmost way to serve others around us.