One fine morning when you wake from your deep slumber you stretch your arms high over your head as you look to the sky golden red, and in a hazy gleam you see that chicken by the old shed. In the distance far off, you hear the pigs giving their call and breathe in that sweet breeze that sweeps in. Walking down the stairs the breakfast scent in the air and you can’t help but to salivate. Pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and bacon, your favorite, you can’t wait to dig in.
We all know that one person in our lives that comes around and exudes confidence. That person with the witty comebacks, carefree attitude, and that unique something that you just can’t put your finger on but you know it’s just so them. They have this ability to get people to open up and truly listen to your problems and issues. They give solid advice, conversation with substance that is brimming with care, and convey a reliability and trust that no one else quite has.
Imagine if this person is a pig. Your other friends are chickens (Bear with me here, I promise it's going somewhere). Your friendship with them is the breakfast you eat everyday without hesitation and thinking. Well, you have pancakes, hashbrowns, bacon, and an egg. An egg, not a chicken. If you ponder this for a second, you think about how much your friend, the chicken, really contributed to the friendship. They only gave an egg whereas the pig died for the breakfast. They give themselves wholly and completely for you to have a great breakfast and they can maybe, just maybe, help you be the best you can be today.
What people don't realize is that when you give your all to every single friendship you have you can become very drained. You sacrifice talking about your issues so the friend or boyfriend or girlfriend can have someone to vent to. But when that person does this so much for others, their people don't think twice about them having issues because they can seemingly fix everything. So when the time comes for that person to need someone no one gives it that much attention. They assume they're good on their own and don't give that same kind of time, effort, and advice that that person gives them.
These "pigs" are more committed to others than they are themselves. And if we as people don't focus on ourselves every once in awhile, our dreams, our lives, then we run on empty constantly and never feel fulfilled. We can't keep giving when we're not doing anything for ourselves in return. When we aren't fueling ourselves we end up fried.
We know these people. They help make our breakfasts special and add a different flavor. They’re in our lives everyday. They are the people who seem to have it all together, the people who are “going places”, and the ones who can fix everything. Because they have all the answers, there’s no reason for them to ever have issues...right? If they did would you know? No you wouldn't. Unless you are a pig too.
So to all you "pigs" out there, I know it is increasingly frustrating because it feels like no one cares at all. You cry when no one is around and they will not know you ever did or do cry. You feel bad, left out, like your friends don't care, as if they see you frying and just walk away. It can make you feel alone and exhausted and you question why you even keep doing it. What we have to learn is to be committed to ourselves. Not others. Do something for yourselves and realize that it is okay to put yourself first sometimes. We all need a break, we all need someone now and then and one day, we will find our pig.