I recently found myself giving great advice to a friend who is running on empty. She has been caring for her adult son who is ill and needless to say her tank is out of fuel. I write each week about giving. Giving of oneself, giving time, sharing talents but I rarely write about giving to your self.

I find it fascinating that we do not think twice about supporting a cause, giving our energy and resources and yet, time and time again we all put ourselves at the bottom of the list. While I do believe and practice the philosophy of “the more you give, the more you receive.” There is a line, a fine one, but it is there. Each of us needs to start looking at that line and knowing what to do when we see it.

That line is our gas tank and if our fuel is running low, then we need to take the resources we need to fill it up before we can begin to give to another. As they say on the plane, put your oxygen mask on yourself first and then on your child. Our giving is no different, we need to make sure that we are at the top of our list so that we can take care of everyone else below.

You give so much too so many, remember to give to yourself….first.

Charity Matters.

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