Being Selfish is Okay

Published on 23 January 2023 at 21:59

Coined by the late great Kobe Bryant, "There is no "I" in team, but there damn sure is an "I" in win." Forego, the image of a ball hog or the most missed shots in NBA History. See the success. See the five championship rings and second all time single game scorer. Are you ready to get your rings? Have you even begun playing the game?


It is great to help others, but not at the expense of yourself. Charitable works feel good. But paying bills feels better. The average American is two paychecks away from living on the street. Giving a dollar to the homeless every now and then won't kill you. But what if it would? What if, in the face of piety and righteousness, you did give your last to someone in need? Sure, the endorphins in your brain would cause you elation, akin to eating chocolate, while your flutters under the realization that I am screwed. I am not saying don't give (retracting devil horns). What I am saying is make sure you are good before seeing if the world needs saving.

Let's try a more mundane, less villainous approach. You are a gym rat and your buddies a party types. You want to appease them by hanging out but doing so would take away gym time and destroy your diet. But your goal is to be Mr. Olympia! Easy- follow Chris Bumstead and make the sacrifice. Bumstead is quoted as saying, "They would always invite me out and I used to decline because I needed to be in the gym to compete. Eventually, they just stopped asking me out because they knew I had to go to the gym.". While the goal is not to alienate anyone or distance yourself from peers, goals need to be met and if success and goals are the deal breakers in a friendship, what kind of friends do you have?

Be your own hero first. Save yourself. Be mindful of others but take care of yourself first. Work, but don't overwork. All that cash is no good if you die from stress. Stay critical. Stay observant. Stay healthy. 

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