I'm applauding this from the hotel room where I went to take a couple of days to do some things I needed to do for myself without any distractions. I do have an office at home, but it's right off the den and so the sound of the TV carries. The door doesn't latch right and various pets are always pushing it open. It's not as private or as quiet as I would like and it's too accessible to people who need/want things from me, but I do feel lucky to have it none-the-less. Kaia Maeve Tingley wrote not long ago about sitting in her truck in front of Whole Foods so she could use their wifi and have some peace.

I used to put myself last, making sure that everyone else's needs were met before turning attention to mine. There's still a strong socialized-in pull to do that, but over the years I've gotten better at realizing that I can't pour from an empty cup and not only do I deserve to prioritize myself sometimes but that it's actually better for everyone else if I sometimes do that.