They say, “Make a difference, go light that flame,”
But forget to ask who’s first in the game.
If you serve the world and lose your core,
You’re building on sand, there’s no subfloor.

 

They teach you to stretch, to be bold and true,
To keep your word and see others through.
But where's the call to stop, to rest?
To take of yourself before those quests?

 

Take care of you—that’s job number one.

You can’t give more when you’ve come undone.

You can’t give light if your fire is through.

Your number one job is taking care of you.

 

They call you to lead, to give and to grow,
To take on a stand and let others know.
But often the ones who try to comply
Are able to do it with their self denied.

 

It’s not about greed or choosing retreat,
Your needs are first that you must meet.
Long-term care makes giving wise,
Short-term giving just drains and lies.

 

Take care of you—that’s job number one.

You can’t give more when you’ve come undone.

You can’t give light if your fire is through.

Your number one job is taking care of you.

 

Integrity starts with setting your line,
With “no” as sacred, and “yes” in time.
They say you’re “handled”—but you must decide.
Yourself as first is where you must abide?

 

You can change the world, that much is true,
But first, the world must start with you.
And any ethic that skips that base
Just paints bright smiles on a hollow face.

 

Take care of you—that’s job number one.

You can’t give more when you’ve come undone.

You can’t give light if your fire is through.

Your number one job is taking care of you.