You can't save everyone.
If you've ever flown before, you've had to listen to the flight attendants tell you all the rules of the plane and all the things you are supposed to do in case of an emergency. They're all good things to know and are all things that could really make a difference if an emergency were to arise. No smoking. Keep your seatbelt up. Return your seat to an upright position. Put your air mask on before helping someone else. The final one seeks a little crazy when you first think about it, but if you take a second to think about it, it's actually very logical.
Put your air mask on before helping someone else put theirs on. The idea is that if you're not okay and taken care of, how can you help someone else? If you can't breathe, how can you help someone else who can't breathe? You need to make sure you're okay and that all of your needs are being met before you try to help someone else.
If you're anything like me, you care too much. You give you're all to people who wouldn't necessarily do the same for you. That's not to say they are bad people, they just aren't you. Everyone you meet, you immediately try to figure out how you can be of service to them, how you can help them, what you can do to make their life better. You don't mean to; you can't help but think that way.
You'd be willing to do anything for anyone at anytime no matter what you have going on in your life, no matter what you are going through. You've given up things that you wanted to do or needed to get done so that you can sit with a friend and listen for a little bit. You've more than sacrificed to help others and to offer your services. You drop everything just to be there.
There's nothing wrong with being there for others. The question though is how much of yourself are you sacrificing for others. How much are you suffering in return? Are you taking the time to put your air mask on first?
You can't expect to help others if you aren't taking the time to help yourself. You need to keep yourself your #1 priority and make sure you take the time to meet your needs before you can offer yourself to other people. You can't save someone who is drowning, if you can't swim yourself.
Take the time to worry about yourself every once in awhile. No one is going to blame you for it.
