Are you always putting everyone else first in your life?  Our children are so important to us that we tend to put their needs first.  As our parents age, we then need to put them first.  During your marriage perhaps you were continuously putting your husband’s needs or career first.  Even the needs of the marriage itself may have taken priority over your needs.

As girls, we learned that caring for others was a big part of our female identity.  We grew up with Cinderella caring for her step mother and step sisters, with Snow White caring for the Seven Dwarves, and with TV shows depicting women supporting and nurturing others but never themselves.

I have worked with women who felt that taking care of their own needs was selfish.  I’ve also worked with women who are still putting their grown children’s needs first.  They sadly express that they “have no choice”.

We do have choices in our lives.  It is up to us to choose to make ourselves a priority.  I invite you to take some time today to think of one change you can make in your life that is nurturing for you.  Remember, it could be adding something to your life or it could be letting something go from your life.  Let me know how it goes for you.