This is what I finally was able to write for the QVV Challenge.
I want to start by saying I know saying "myself" for motivation for goals sounds selfish. However, given the shit show my health has been, especially in the last year, it is more important than ever.
I have always put others first... Their health, their happiness, their safety. In the last six months roughly, I realized that I need to stop doing that. I need to care about myself so I can care about others more successfully and more genuinely. I've always said, "You can't care about others unless you care about yourself." I've been hypocritical about that ever since I was in elementary school, when I started having empathy and sympathy.
In the last year, I have finally started to care about my health. I'm nowhere near okay from everything that needs to be worked on... Epilepsy, functional neurological disorder, bipolar 2, generalized anxiety disorder, and an eating disorder. It was hard to push for the treatment for the eating disorder and I'm still struggling, even after a two month program. If I don't keep fighting to care for myself with that, I'm just going to die a painful death. I know that's the reality. If I don't care about myself for that, how can I be there for the people that need me?
If I don't take care of my health, both physical and mental, I can't function. I spend about one third of my life unable to function as is. If it gets bad, to how it was a couple years ago, I can't guarantee having the strength to fight that level again.
* * *
Sorry if this didn't make sense, or at least part of how much I want it to. My brain feels fried from staring spells the last couple days.
About the Creator
Rene Peters
I write what I know, usually in the form of poetry. I tend to lean towards mental health, epilepsy, and loss/grieving.
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Comments (19)
Thanks for sharing your feelings and I hope you and your health improve. Congrats on your top story!
Thanks for sharing something so personal. Congrats on top story.
Congrats on top story…
This is so real and deeply personal, and I admire your strength in sharing it. Prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s survival, and it’s necessary. Wishing you all the strength on this journey. You're fighting for something so important—you.
Thanks for sharing and deserved accolade
It makes sense!!! Congratulations on Top Story!!!
Yes every day is a fresh start, and for those of us that have handicaps it is even more relevant. Well Done!!!
I wish you the best! 💖And congrats on top story!
This is so beautiful and relatable. Im to take care of my body as my immune system has been failing me and it’s bringing a whole bunch of illnesses month after month. You will be strong to survive come what may. I pray you stay healthy and happy always. The world needs your beautiful light
Great top story. I’m so glad you’re prioritising yourself. Having empathy and caring for others is absolutely right - but people should also care and support you too. Wishing you all the best.
Thank you for writing this. It was beautiful. And honest. And real af.
It's not selfish to choose ourselves especially when we've already exhausted what we have - energy, time, emotions and others. Congratulations on your Top Story! 💕
You've shown incredible strength by acknowledging your struggles and actively working toward bettering your health.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
I don’t think it’s selfish! I think taking care of yourself is a great goal.
It makes sense to me. We can't pour from an empty cup so we need to learn to fill our own cup first. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
A wise person once told it like this - is it selfish to live for yourself, or is selfish of others to want you to live for them?!?! Who is really selfish there? You can’t be of willing and useful and loving service without health. I’m glad you see this - it’s a major step in the right direction. Awareness is like 30% of the battle. The rest Is in the smaller, simple and consistent changes. Hydration and Eating as many of the right foods (fruits, veg, herbs, grains, seeds etc) to rebalance / balance your nutrient levels is another 20% of it. Another 20% is mindset and belief in healing. Louise Hay and Joe Dispenza and Esther Hicks are all excellent resources for this. The other 30% or so? Movement….dancing… Sleep…. Avoiding toxic people and substances… singing… laughing… CRYING! grieving when it comes up, feeling all the pain of the past and letting it go - especially anger and guilt - people pleasers are always hiding immense anger from even themselves, forgiving yourself and others, Health is simple (but not easy). But ohhhh so worth it. Nothing else compares to how health feels. Pure peace, pure love…. All together. Never leaving you… That’s what awaits at the end of the arduous and painful journey ahead! But not changing? As you said… will be even more painful. So get comfortable with the discomfort of the pain of progress… instead of the comfortable discomfort of staying the same. ❤️🩹🤍
I hope writing this empower you. 🥰hugs
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