Methods-of-Self-Care

TAKE CARE OFYOUR-FUCKING-SELFBY DANIKA McCLUREI am mean, I am selfish, and I am obsessed with my owninterests. It has taken 22 years of discomfort, periods ofunhappiness, and being unsatisfied for me to accept the factthat I am completely happy with allowing myself to be selfabsorbed.To me, being selfish has become a method of selfcare.I can remember several times, both in my adolescent andadult life, where I have been scolded by peers, family members,and friends for doing what I feel is in my best interests. Thewords, “selfish,” “mean,” and “self absorbed,” have been thrownat me more times than I can count throughout my life, all ofwhich I have been socialized to be ashamed of, especially asa woman. I would encourage myself, and all babes out thereto reclaim those words in positive ways, particularly whenit involves making decisions that are in your best interestsand that will make you the most happy. I find myself in allsituations lately repeating the mantra “take care of yourfucking-self…takecare of your-fucking-self…take care ofyour-fucking-self.” And I do it. And I do it in whatever waynecessary. Sometimes that has to be mean. And that is fuckingOKAY.