I agree that what I give to myself makes it possible to give to others. In my line of work (social work in a hospital setting), people expect me to be compassionate, patient, energetic for their cause, empathic, and the list goes on. I have felt nothing of this lately and am working with my therapist on reducing my anxiety about my job. At my session yesterday we talked about how it's not just the job, it's a lot of things going on in my life right now that I am allowing to keep me down. That I am allowing to defeat my efforts at "giving to myself". It's the trauma work I am NOT doing in therapy. It's the lack of sleep, rest. It's worrying about my kids. So I appreciate this one sentence for it's truth and poignancy for me at this time. I want to be able to give to others...I also want to be able to give to myself. I have not been eating right lately and this is one thing that really wears me out. I am trying to take it one day at a time. I need to get back to my nutritionist. I need to do this for myself. I am going to do this for myself. :)