Not Selfish

Like putting on a your life vest
before a child's. Like taking a plank
from your own eye before a splinter
in another's. Like getting a strong foothold
before reaching out to help someone,
a good grasp before offering to help
the person climbing behind you.
It's not selfish to take care of yourself.
Sure, it's counterintuitive for a codependent,

it's hard to do when you've been taught
to put others before yourself, but it's right,
it's true and it's smart. And it's the only way
to survive, or at least to have some worth
to contribute to the rest of humanity
and to your God. Do what you need to do
for you then do for others
as you would have someone do for you
and that requires being able, not just willing,
to help.