Do you ever feel like Charlie Brown?

I was a big fan of his growing up. I must've only been 7 or 8 years old when I got hooked. The Peanuts movies were the best -- The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc. I always felt like I could relate, even as a child. He'd run to kick that football, and Lucy would undoubtedly always pull it out from under him. Like clockwork, Charlie would fall on his back, defeated. Then Lucy would stare at him and that would be that. Rinse and repeat.

Now that I'm an adult, I still, at times, feel like Charlie. I go-go-go with all my might and it still doesn't seem to be enough. I'm not able to kick the ball, and I'm going to wind up on my ass and clueless about what happened, even after all of that.

Some recent occurrences have made me really question myself and how what I do affects my family, friends, co-workers .. AND me. I feel that at times I give too much, am too helpful -- and only to the detriment of myself. From now on, I'm going to look out for those closest to me and me only.

Mom and I talked today and we came to the age old conclusion (which we've gone over and over again) that the only people who will look out for you is, well .. you. And as cynical, heartless and selfish as it sounds, I'm going to start doing just that.

Oh, the hidden meanings. Some of you will know what this means, and others will have no idea. But I promise from today forward, I am going to be no one's punching bag. I will no longer be Charlie Brown.