Has Self Care Gone Too Far?

​Has self care gone too far?
 
Ok, ok, hear me out. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. As a hoop and yoga instructor, a big part of what I do is encouraging people to take care of their bodies and minds, and to take time for themselves to have fun. Doing these things is obviously a good thing. But I cannot look at this year in particular, and not having a nagging feeling that a lot of people are focusing less on self care and more on selfishness. 
 
I see self care as a tool to help become the best person one can be, so that you’re able to help others to the fullest extent. And isn’t that our most important goal as humans? To care for our community, family, and friends? No man is an island, and support is necessary to everyone at some point. But now I look at so many people who, in the midst of a GLOBAL pandemic, do not want to wear masks, and furthermore, refuse to. Wearing a mask has been proven to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, yet you’d think you asked people to cut off their hand. I’ve seen every single reason in the book, and none have moved me. 
 
Is this where we are? We can’t do the bare minimum for our fellow man? Self care that doesn’t result in being a better member of our friend group, our family, our society, defeats the entire purpose.
 
It’s not selfish to ask for help when you need it. It’s not selfish to politely decline invitations. It’s not selfish to take time off that is owed you.  But it is selfish to cause harm to others.