All my life, I have given more of myself than needed to be given.  I have cared with more heart and soul about YOUR problems before I even addressed my own.  I have kept my mouth shut, for fear of hurting YOUR feelings, even though my own were hurt.  I have stayed until finally being left behind, so as to avoid having to break YOUR heart, even though mine was broken too.  I have cried silent tears and stifled unspoken words, all at MY expense.  It was as though you were more important than I... your wants, your needs, your feelings... and so all of my dreams, my wants, my needs, my feelings... have gone unmet.  They were candles in the wind.

Why?  What is the reason behind this behaviour?  What is it in me, that will not, CAN not love myself first and foremost amongst my family, friends and peers?  I know what I want, and when I don't get it... I've too often settled for the path of least resistance, especially if that meant sparing your feelings... but what about mine?  What about me??

As I start this journey of self-love and self-acceptance, these are questions that I have still yet to answer.  There is no justifying how I've treated myself these last 31 years, and with that said I truly believe that it is time for a change.  It is time for me to start putting me first.  It is time to start addressing my own feelings, and my own dreams.  I have created this person that is me at this very moment, and I can create a whole new me, someone I'll have to get to know, someone I'll have to be kind to, someone I'll have to love until she can love herself.

After all... what are friends for?