I’m worthy of this,” as I sip my tea at Café Tortini. The warmth fills me, and I feel the soothing blend of the Tortini tea roll over my senses. The sweetness of the warm churros with dulce de leche lingers in my mouth. It was given to me, and I am fully embracing this moment.
I’ve just come from Parilla El Argentino where I savored the most incredible Bife Ojo. And it hits me - the act of savoring these simple, joyful moments is the self-care I’ve been avoiding for so long. I deserve this peace, this indulgence.
But then, the hard truth knocks. I didn’t prioritize myself, never. I thought I had to push, hustle, and work harder for everything I wanted. I convinced myself that I had to earn my rest, that I could never fully relax until I had done enough. And when I did finally try to take a moment, guilt would always creep in.
What did I lose by keeping on like that?
I lost the joy. The satisfaction. The ability to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I kept going, always thinking I’d reward myself later, when things settled, when I was successful enough. But I realized it wasn’t working that way. It never would. I was stuck in a cycle of hustle, always thinking that fulfillment was just around the corner. But it wasn’t. It was always out of reach.
This moment - the Bife Ojo, the tea, the churros, visit BA Verde a beautiful place in the middle of Buenos Aires - isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s the boundary I wasn’t setting, the energy I wasn’t protecting. I need this the keep my energy high!
In the old days, I kept hustling. I kept working without rest. I kept saying, “I’ll take care of myself later.” But later never came. If I kept putting myself last, I would never truly live.
What was the cost of not putting myself first? The longer I waited, the further I got from the life I truly wanted. And that’s a price I couldn’t afford anymore to pay.
How often do you put yourself last, and what’s the impact it’s had on your life?