This weekend I took stock of my stress and realized it was off the charts. I wrote out all the projects I’m working on to *help* people and friends get THEIR business going and compared it with how much time I’m spending on my own. Then I looked at who is helping me and who is not. Out of the 15 or so folks I’ve been helping, only three are putting in as much time on helping me as I am spending on helping them. The others are sitting around like helpless baby birds going “feed me feed me feed me feed me.” It sucked. A lot. More than I thought.

I have learned we can’t change others, we can only change ourselves. So I cut the cord, notified everyone who was draining more than they were filling and reorganized my boundaries and priorities. It felt good. I am not responsible for people’s success. They are. Unless they are paying me, or reciprocating in kind, for me to keep helping others more than I’m helping me is a no win situation for me. When you have more energy, like money, going out than coming in, eventually you’ll be empty. I don’t want to be empty, bitter, sick. So I’m saying YES to me by saying NO to others.

Don’t worry. I factored in X amount of time to give to non-profits, individuals and charities that I passionately support and love. They don’t have to give anything in return or reciprocate. They are recipients in the most joyful way I know how to give. But the able-bodied and financially capable who just don’t want to spend the money to get what they want (more money), are going to have to go it alone. I wish you well.

We all make our best choices and I’ve made mine. Here’s to my better health, peace of mind and a kinder, more loving spirit as I finally take care of me like I’ve been taking care of so many others. Yay!!!