Feels Good to Put Me First

For the past 22 years, I've been a mom. I had my son at 25, and ever since then -- and even well before then -- I put the needs of everyone else first. I always made sure that we had my kids' favorite foods in the house. That we had enough milk. That I cooked what they loved, for dinner, that I baked with them and laughed. What I didn't make sure of, though, was that I took time out for myself.

I am now taking just a few minutes each day to make sure that I did everything I needed to -- for me. I am making sure that I'm not with people who don't treat me well. I'm making sure that I eat right and don't eat things that make my body unhappy. Yes, you have to have treats every day - but not so many that you go to bed each night with a stomach ache.

In fact, it's such a good feeling to take care of me. That I actually feel it's building my own self esteem -- about me. This is an amazing feeling. I've never had this before. It's great.