Selflessness

I am always envious about people's selflessness, but really, do selflessness exist? In most extend it does not apply. Perhaps, the way I was brought up, I never believe in selflessness, everyone is selfish they think of themselves first, even if there's a fair among of selflessness, there'll be a portion of it that is directed to the self. Example of it, if a person helps another person, he or she wanted in return is the praise and acknowledgment of that person that was helped or even the people around that. This is my take on it, I could be wrong, I am not even certain, perhaps I needed something to make me believe in it...