Today is my birthday. Yes, I know, Happy Birthday to me! I am officially twenty-four years old. It’s the first birthday I’ve had that’s made me stop and think. I mean, I’m certainly not over the hill, but I’m not as close to the bottom as I used to be either. It’s a good place to be, not at the bottom and not over the top. Today was the first time I realized how far I’ve traveled up the hill.

I love my birthday. It’s one of the few things I look forward to during the cold, winter months. I enjoy being the center of attention, so I swell up inside when people openly acknowledge my day of birth. In my book, the more over the top, the better.

I don’t always live my life like this though. Instead, I tend to allow others to speak up, be in the spotlight, and call the shots. I rarely focus on my needs or put my needs before others’. It wasn’t until a few months ago, however, in the midst of extreme exhaustion, that I recognized the danger of this tendency.

meSo as I approach my 24th year of life, I propose a new way of thinking called “Looking out for Number One.” “Looking out for Number One” means taking vacation days whenever I want for no reason other than the fact that the employee handbook says I can. “Looking out for Number One” means speaking up for myself, even when I’m not asked to. “Looking out for Number One” means getting enough sleep or turning off my cell phone because my health and sanity affect my ability to be a good worker, friend, and lover.

“Looking out for Number One” does not make my needs more important than others. It is not manipulative selfishness; it is compassionate selfishness. Of course I will still concern myself with the well-being of others; my passion for people requires that. No, “Looking out for Number One” simply means giving myself permission to visit a friend in the Bahamas in the middle of March, keeping my eyes and ears open to exciting job opportunities in other cities, and buying an awesome pair of Steve Madden boots-without guilt.

As I let this new mentality sink into my brain, I grow more and more excited about my 24th year. I’ve been thinking of ways to take better care of myself and I can’t wait to get started. I already bought the latest issue of Cosmo and I’m looking forward to rotting my brain reading it during a much-needed pedicure. Of course, moderation is key, but goodness knows I deserve the attention. And let me tell you a secret…

…you do too.

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