I’ve Become Selfish—and for the First Time in My Life, I Feel Happy!
A Life Devoted to Family
My name is Natalie, I’m 42 years old, married, with two grown-up sons.
This is the tale of a woman who spent her life putting others first until she finally decided enough was enough.
I got married at 19, dedicating my life to family from that point on.
While my friends were out socializing, attending parties, and enjoying university life, I was rocking a baby stroller, doing laundry, cleaning, and preparing for exams at night, as I was studying part-time.
My grandmother warned me:
“You can’t handle all that; you’ll break.”
But I was stubborn and set out to prove her wrong.
And I succeeded.
I had my second son, earned my degree, worked, and took care of my husband and children, all the while neglecting myself.
But I didn’t complain.
Three Men in the House—and It’s All on Me
I loved my men, so I put up with everything.
They left their things scattered all over the house, left dirty dishes on the table, forgot to turn off the stove, and didn’t think about who cleaned, washed, or took care of them.
As if it was my duty to make their lives comfortable.
But I loved them.
So I remained silent and continued to care for them.
Until one day, I realized they had grown accustomed to my efforts.
They didn’t care if I was tired or not; the important thing was having dinner on the table and clean shirts in the closet.
They didn’t see me as their servant or housekeeper, but as a woman who also wanted to live.
And one day, I had enough.
I Escaped to the Theatre
It was an ordinary winter day.
I came home from work, and as usual, the house was a mess.
“That’s it!” I thought to myself. “Enough!”
I turned around and left the house.
I took the bus to the city center and bought a ticket to the theatre.
For the first time in years, I did something just for me.
On the way back, I noticed dozens of missed calls from my husband and sons.
I turned off my phone and headed home with a smile on my face.
When I returned, they bombarded me with questions:
“Where were you? Why didn’t you tell us? Why isn’t dinner ready?”
I calmly replied:
“You’re grown up. You can sort it out. I’m living for myself now too.”
I Changed—and I Liked It
And I kept my word.
From that day, I stopped doing their laundry, cooking, cleaning up after them, ironing shirts.
They had to learn to do it themselves.
And I remembered what it meant to live for myself.
I bought myself nice clothes, rather than pots or kitchen towels.
I booked appointments for manicures, went to the hairdresser, joined a gym.
I started meeting friends, walking around town, taking trips to the countryside.
And you know what?
I liked it!
At first, my husband and sons couldn’t believe I had changed.
They thought I was just being difficult and would soon return to the old routine.
But when the clean clothes ran out and the fridge became empty, they quickly learned how to use the washing machine, stove, and iron.
And I suddenly realized:
How wonderful it is to be selfish!
What a shame I discovered this so late.
