He took me dancing, he protected me, he gave me his vision for our relationship. He listened to everything I had to say and showed me that he could be the perfect man. He undoubtedly was my soul mate. I had never met a man who was so attentive and so into me. No matter what or where my scars were, he accepted them.

You’ve worked. You’ve raised families. You’ve educated yourself. You’ve carried relationships on your back. You’ve built, poured, given, stretched, bent, and twisted yourself into shapes you didn’t even recognize — all while keeping everything and everyone else afloat…..

Because somewhere, there’s a woman who needs to hear that she’s not crazy, she’s not selfish, and she’s not alone. Somewhere, there’s a woman who needs permission to want more for herself.

Maybe choosing yourself isn't selfish. Maybe it's necessary. Maybe it's overdue. Maybe it's the most loving thing you can do - for yourself and for the people who have gotten too comfortable expecting you to sacrifice everything for their comfort.

But what if wanting more for ourselves isn’t selfish? What if it’s necessary? What if the problem isn’t with us, but with a system that benefits from our endless giving?