Saying NO

I used to always feel bad about telling someone, “NO” and when I did I would dance and sing an do cartwheels trying my best to explain myself out of whatever it was I was being asked to do.

I’m not even sure I remember when the change happened. When I went from always saying “YES” and regretting it the minute it left my mouth to the point that I no longer cared what people thought of me and said “NO” to prove it.

There was a time when I agreed to just about anything. Throw a party for a friend and agree to host it at my house? YES! Volunteer to be room mom for third grade? YES! Babysit little Tommy? YES! Do this? Organize that? Plan the other? YES! YES! YES!

And just like a light switch, I turned that sonofabitch off.

And I started saying NO.

And it was easy.

And freeing.

And it made me happy!

Can you be Art Mom for fourth grade? NO. Can you watch little Tommy for a weekend? NO. Can you organize this or plan that? NO and NO.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to say NO to the things you really, truly DO NOT WANT TO DO.

And the best part? You don’t even have to give a reason or explain yourself. No one needs to know how busy you are or what is on your calendar or how the baby is teething or the husband is out of town on business and the kids all have soccer practice.

Just say NO.

And if you are lucky people kinda stop asking you so much. In a word: Freedom.