Why are you the most important?

 This blog was written after a shooting in Niagara Falls.

Over the last couple of days, I have seen some people demonstrate that they feel they are more important than anyone else. We have been out spending time walking around and seeing things, and it has been a lot of fun.

We did run into an issue, and that was due to a shooting that happened within a 10-minute walk from where we were staying. The shooting happened after midnight, so we didn't know about it until the morning. This shooting took place on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls and all the locals are shocked because this doesn't happen very often in the tourist area. Due to the shooting and the investigation, it meant that this entire street was closed for hours. This street besides having lots of restaurants also has lots of attractions and is also one of the ways you can walk to see the Falls.

I know it did change our route on Friday, but it was something that we just dealt with and continued with our trip. We did hear a few people a little upset in the morning, but everyone seemed to handle it well. Later in the day, we walked back over to see if it has reopened, but it hadn't. This was 5pm, and some people were upset they couldn't either go to a restaurant for dinner and walk down the street to the falls. We got to hear lots of comments and here are a few.

• We drove all the way here and couldn't do anything

• What is taking them so long to clean it up, it's only a shooting

• I want to go for dinner and can't

• How am I supposed to get to the falls?

• Why are the restaurants and attractions still closed?

• It was supposed to be open in 15 minutes, but that was a couple of hours ago.

What bothered me was people thinking that they were so important. What so many people didn't think about was that possibly three families are dealing with victims of the shooting. All the victims were under 18 years old, and one was killed and the other two seriously injured.

Sure, the shooting impacted a Friday on Clifton Hill, but it also impacted families that are going to be impacted for more than one day.

Taking time for me

I think all of us have times when we want to hide from the world and take time for ourselves. I know that there have been times that I have wanted to do that and just haven’t because I know that I have a lot of other things that need my attention and put them first.

One thing that I have realized over the last few years is how important it is to make sure that I do take that time for me. It doesn’t have to be a long time, it just needs to be some time when I do something that makes me happy, and I don’t think about all the other demands on my time and energy. What I have found it making sure that I have projects that I can quickly pick up makes it so much easier for me to take that bit of time.

I watch one Flosstuber that her closing comment is about making sure that you take some time for yourself, as your mental health is important. I so agree with her comment because making sure that you take the time for yourself makes such a big difference in how to handle everything else. For so long I was putting everyone else ahead of myself, but over the last while I have realized that I need to sometimes put myself ahead of others.

I am not saying that you only look after yourself, as that isn’t good, but you need to ensure that you take the break and remember that you are also important in the overall scope of things. One of the things that I have figured out is making sure that I find even 15 minutes each day to do a bit of crafting. It doesn’t have to be a lot of something, it just needs to be some time when I can focus on something that makes me happy and where I can escape all the other demands.

Taking time for yourself is very important in so many ways. It helps to reduce the amount of stress that you are feeling and dealing with. It also gives you a bit of a break from all the other demands on your time and energy. So, next time you are getting very frustrated and feeling like everyone wants your attention, remember to take that bit of time for yourself as you are important just like everyone else.