29th October, 2022
There’s a reason why the friendly voice on the plane always tells you, in case of an emergency, put your own oxygen mask on first. If you save yourself, you have a chance of saving your family, your kids, the other people you’re travelling with. If you try to put the mask on them first, you’re going to pass out — possibly before you even get the mask on them.
I am reminded of a parable I read,
A cobbler lived in a large village and he was the only cobbler in town, so he was responsible for repairing the shoes and footwear of everyone.
However, being awfully busy, he didn’t have time to repair his own shoes.
This wasn’t a problem at first, but over time, his boots began to deteriorate and fall apart.
While he worked feverishly on the boots of everyone else, his feet got blisters and he started to limp.
His customers started to worry about him, but he reassured them that everything was ok.
However, after a few years, the cobbler’s feet were so badly injured that he could no longer move about, or work and no-one’s footwear got repaired.
As a consequence, soon the entire town started to limp in pain, all because the cobbler never took the time to repair his own boots.
This simple principle is so often disregarded.
If you are in a responsible position and are one of the important links in the groups survival chain and if You do not look after yourself, after a while you’ll not be able to do good for anyone else either.
Your best intentions will mean nothing and you’ll be unable to do what you’re meant to do.
This goes for all, the leaders, social workers, teachers, even parents, breadwinners, homemakers, everyone.
If you don’t take the time to care for yourself, no-one else will.
Are you taking care of yourself ??
It’s tempting just to immerse yourself at the socially-accepted escape of work, especially if you’re good at it and you get fulfilment from it. But sometimes, we make these problems for ourselves. We chase promotions, start businesses, and juggle multiple side projects in order to avoid the problems we really should be dealing with (but don’t want to). The ones that we really fear. The ones that we’re embarrassed or ashamed of. The ones that are the most important.
The best way to take care of yourself is to do atleast one thing that makes you happy, every day.
Comedian Whitney Cummings writes “I understand on a soul level that I can’t give what I don’t have.”
It’s easier to spread joy, enthusiasm, and inspiration to your friends when you’re brimming with it.
So take the time to recharge yourself.
This weekend, Take Care of yourself first and stay blessed forever.