What Is Water?

While reading This Is Water, I agreed with Wallace's ideology and viewpoint; it just made sense and fit well logically. It's "my natural default setting ... that situations like this are really all about me." While reading this, the mention of water really appealed to me. If we think about life as surrounded by water, it seems so easy to see other people since water is transparent. However, water also has another use: a mirror. When we look into the water, all we end up seeing is ourselves instead of the others that we should be noticing. Something that seems so logical and simple is instead hard for people to do. 

As much as I try to think about others first and put myself after, I grow wary of the fact that while other people use me to better their own lives, I end up missing the opportunities that life presents to me. It seems easy to accept the fact that I am not the center of the universe, yet in my daily life I almost always think of myself first. But then again I think, it is really wrong to think of myself first? If I don't prioritize myself, then who will? If almost everyone wishes the best for themselves, then who will support me? Is it wrong to be the main character of my own story? Should I instead be the supporting character in someone else's story?

While I should be considerate of others, I don't think I should totally sacrifice myself for the sake of others. As a person, I still have my own dreams and my own character. When I can, I should be considerate of others and helpful to their dreams, but I don't believe that I should completely donate my body and my life to the service of other people. 

While I wholly agree with David Foster Wallace's point that the consideration of others is essential, I still believe that, I myself,  as my own person, should not be required to throw away my own individuality and life to sacrifice for the wellbeing of others.