"Replenish the well of yourself, for yourself first. And if you think there's no time to do that, what you're really saying is, "I have no life to give to or live for myself." And if you have no life to live for yourself, then why are you here?"
This seemingly selfish-sounding statement actually comes from a contemporary American celebrity who has accomplished so much and given away so much - Oprah Winfrey.
I know a number of people complaining that they have no life, who would be lucky to even get four hours of sleep in their own bed, and whose structured lives are outlined by the details of their journal/daytimer. Incidentally, these are people who run businesses, manage teams, or take charge of an enterprise.
And while I envy them for their acquired status and the achievements that came with all the sweat and labor they put into their career, still I would not dare set my ambitions far too high that I would sacrifice precious time for the things I hold dear.
I am perfectly comfortable with my 40-hr work week. I strive to maintain the balance between family and work. I am competent enough to be trusted with challenging tasks and responsibilities. Yet many of my expectations remain unfulfilled. I end up wishing I could be more and that I could have done more.
I wonder, to what does Oprah owe the magnitude of her success? She couldn't have arrived at this point of her career thinking of replenishing herself first? Could her fortune have turned out differently if she were saddled with marriage and a family?
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