Once I tried out to be a contestant on a game show. The program was a revival of, You Bet Your Life, and featured Bill Cosby as its host. Sadly I was not selected. I'm not bitter as the program lasted only one season (No doubt due to the lack of dynamic contestants.).
During the application process, a whole bunch of other people were brought into a hotel conference room where you spend a lot of time waiting. This gave me a chance to meet an elderly but energetic woman who was seated next to me. "Gail" surprised me by telling me that she had no intention of going on the program, even if she was picked.
"My husband is very sick and every day I have to spend just about the whole day with him," she said. "There's no way I could leave town to be on the show."
Back then I was thinking that this revelation had slightly improved my odds of getting on the show. But soon I became curious and I asked Gail why she was in the audience.
"Every day I take some time and do something just for me," she replied. "I love my husband and will care for him until the day he dies. But I also have to take some time for me."
I was impressed with this woman for two reasons. She was fulfilling her wedding day promise to care for her husband in sickness and in health. But she also understood that the task could easily become all consuming and in order to take care of him, she also needed to address her needs.
Very often it's easy to let something important dominate our lives to the point where you begin to suffer. Gail had realized there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish at a time when you must be at your most giving.
Bill Cosby may have never heard this story but I'm glad I did.
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