I learned this lesson is the the 8th grade when I lost the election to captain the cheer-leading squad by 1 vote, my vote. Up until that point in my life I had never voted for myself, thinking that it was the most selfish and conceded of all acts. After that election common sense and logic kicked in and I never made that mistake again.
I am now over 20 years past that experience and still finding that I need to work on that lesson. I rarely put myself first; it’s always my daughter, husband, family, work or something. I enjoy these things very much in my life and I love to excel at them and make them all happy, but I often forget that a little selfishness is okay along the way.
I think it was a good upbringing and solid morals taught by my parents that led me to not vote for myself early on, thinking of others first and not wanting to be selfish. Now it is life that has taught me to not take myself for granted and that every vote counts, including my own.
