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One day my daughter was critical of the time I spend doing things for other people.  I often don't get my own stuff done but I manage to find the time to help friends and neighbours with the tasks that they struggle with. 

I guess, that since I procrastinate, it is my biggest flaw, that she is right.  But I don't see it as wrong.  This week I hugged an old friend that needed to feel grounded cause his mom was very ill.  I sat with his mom and held her hand and talked while he went out for a coffee and a smoke.  I helped a lady clean sweep her house cause she had invited company for the holiday and then got sick.  My own house was less than tidy, cause I had no energy left for me.  I took my mom shopping in the city, cause she doesn't drive.  I cooked a big pot of rich thick turkey soup and put it into freezer jars so an old man could have food ready for him to eat.  I kept watch over a neighbours house while they went for a vacation.  I fed a ladys pets when she was visiting her family far away.  I visited in the old folks home because my friend lives too far away to come be with her mom.  I helped my ill daughter remember her pills and I even ran errands for her father (my x) because she was to ill to care for him and he is recovering from surgery. 

I have a difficult time not helping out and yet I know that financially and emotionally I should learn to care for myself first.

How do I draw the line?  Do I even need to?

In a way this is good for me. I have other people in my life and otherwise I would be alone all the time.  It is confusing.  How do I know when a virtue becomes a vice?  When doing the right thing crosses the line into being the wrong thing.  Does this attitude mean I am co-dependant and need to always do other peoples stuff and not my own?

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Tags: Depression, , Finances, Volunteer