YOU ARE ALL YOU’VE GOT

Most of us know how to love others, but how good are we at taking care of the love of You, your most important self? From the beginning of time, women have long been caretakers of others and not so much of ourselves. Of course, there have been exceptions, (i.e. Samson’s Delilah who only feigned protecting her man and also several Shakespearean women I can think of) but the maternal instinct runs long and deep for most of us women.

My name is a derivation of Alexander and means protector of men. In my lifetime, unfortunately I have been guilty of living up to this meaning of my given name. Guilty not in the sense that it was a totally misguided mission, but it was an embodiment of my character that caused my own self-esteem much harm for a long time. A good life, a worthwhile life does not always have to mean constant self-sacrifice.

It took me a long time to understand that I could give and keep at the same time. Whether you agree with them or not, the Fox’s News Channel boasts, “fair and balanced.” I do know that it is easier said than done, but this is what we should be aiming for if we want to set our sails for a happy and complete life. I’m not too sure she was the best role model in her time, but the late singer Janis Joplin once said something that rings true with me. She said, “Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.”

♥♥♥♥♥