"You see, the truth about people isn't very hard to understand. The ones who stay, stay because they want to.

Because they feel they need to.

Because they care and don't and don't want to see you alone. They'll always be there for you and you never have to ask why. While the ones who leave, leave because they must. Because they received what they wanted from you.

Because they no longer see the need for having you around. And almost always, do they leave unexpectedly. It's sad, but you see, the truth about people is simple. You should always grow with the ones who stay and learn from the ones who leave. And let your heart and time decide which of the two is worth remembering."- R.M. Drake

First off, I want to start by saying, people are going to call you selfish for wanting to put yourself first even before your friends or family. But, there is one thing to know and know for sure: there is nothing wrong with wanting and putting yourself first.

We all have those times where we need to. We get into times of struggle where we get in these ruts that we feel like we will never get out of them; whether it be with friends, family or in a relationship. You never know where life is going to lead you.

I often have to remind my friends that how important it is to put their self first and it isn't selfish, while I can never take my own advice. All of us want to feel that love, especially if you've been in that relationship before that you were so in love and the heartbreak was so bad, that you just want to feel that love again.

My favorite author is R.M. Drake. He always has the best quotes and somehow reads my mind.

"It's okay to want to save people and not know why. Some people are like that, some people love more than others and ask for nothing in return."- R.M. Drake

After any heartbreak after love, like the real love, not just the puppy love, the love you dream about or the love you hear people talking about, what else is there to do but focus on yourself or go out with friends? Because you deserve to. I know it's extremely difficult for most of us to put ourselves first and then for others they have no problem being selfish and putting their self above everyone else.

There is something very healing about taking time to yourself and taking the time to be alone. Go to the gym. Eat some ice cream. Go out with your REAL friends. Write in a journal. Go shopping. Take a ride. Go on a vacation. Learn about yourself again; learn about the person you lost within the relationship, the friendship, the family problems, getting lost in school or whatever it may be. Whatever you put into life is what you're going to get out of life.

I have always tried to be that person to put everyone else above myself because I don't want to be selfish in this life. Like I said, you get out of this life what you put into it. I know one day I want to finish school, move on and go to Graduate School, marry the man I love, raise a family. Just do the things I love, for me and only me.

Make my dreams come true one day, that's what I want to do. If I don't put myself first at least sometimes, how am I going to do that? How can I take care of everyone's problems on top of my own all of the time when no one is really asking me how I'm doing? I've learned to prioritize the things in life that are most important. If you can't truly help yourself, how are you going to help anyone else when they need you?

Not everyone is going to have the same motives or heart as you do. I've been disappointed a lot by people in this lifetime, not necessarily expecting the same things in return from them, just hoping with a little ounce of me that they can appreciate the things I do and will always do. You have to learn your worth and why you deserve to be happy first and foremost. It takes a strong person to do both, but it is possible, I promise.

You don't need the approval of others in order to do these things for you. You do this for you and only you. Begin to love yourself again. Love what you're doing. Love who you are. You are enough. You are ALWAYS enough. Focus on your goals sweetheart, everyone else just wants to waste your damn time.

"And sometimes the one who left you broken returns; and sometimes they are different and sometimes they show you how much they've changed. And that alone might be one of the greatest things in the world; to have someone you once cared about, go through the trouble of finding you just to tell you how much they still care." -R.M. Drake