No Thank You

I’ve had this magnet on my fridge for years. I tend to be a “Yes Man” (woman, in my case).

Not sure if it’s in my DNA, part of my Myers-Briggs personality type, or just my general low self-esteem, but I’m a people pleaser. I like helping people and sharing my time and talents, but I also crave that approval, too. So my motives aren't completely unselfish.

When I dare to say no, though, I feel terribly selfish.

And good. And freeing at the same time.

Did that a few times this week. Nothing major. Just a few little projects that I didn’t really have time for. I could have made time. But they would have added stress. So, gasp, I said no.

It’s not always due to feeling the need to please or answer to other people, either. Part of it is the ability to say no to myself. The ability to give myself a break.

I’ve done that this week, too. After shooting and sorting through volleyball pictures last night – which I love taking, by the way – I went to bed. It was late. I needed sleep. Why force myself to stay up late and organize all 300 pictures? Why make myself lose sleep just to blog about the first day of school — which I guess went fine, according to the “my first class was at 11 a.m.” College Man.

And tonight I am blogging — only after attending church choir practice, which is a joy to me, not a chore.

I think I need to say yes to more things like that. More ME things.

Who knew that would be so hard for this Yes Girl?