Do you need to practice saying, “No?”

My plate is full. I have too many things to do. There are the regular household chores. You know the routine: laundry, folding, cooking, dishes, pots to wash, teeth to brush, teeth to floss, rugs to vacuum, toilets to clean, cat barf to clean up, and seven litter boxes to empty. I need to practice saying no.

On top of all of my regular chores, I have added:  Being the Wicked Witch of the West for the play, Dorothy Meets Alice, writing a book, writing every day for TwoWritingTeachers, month-long challenge, Being the typist for my cat on his blog, the cat who writes, being a contributor to Splickety Blog, sewing black lines on costumes for the play and  setting up a new business selling my paintings.

I realized I needed to practice saying no after I read an article by Stacey Shubitz, “It’s okay to say no.

I will practice now.

“Would you like to make three dozen cookies for the next event?”

“No.”

“Would you like to start a ministry for homeless cats?”

“No.”

“Would you like to build my fence for me?”

“No.”

Okay, I practiced saying no.

My biggest problem is keeping my mouth shut.

I offered to sew the stripes on the costumes. I wanted to be in the play. I wanted to be a regular contributor to an on-line magazine’s blog.

I  have to realize it is not my responsibility to solve everyone else’s problem. Just because I know how to build a fence doesn’t mean  I  have to build all of my friends fences. Just because I know how to sew, doesn’t mean I have to offer to sew clothes for all the children who live on my street.

I need to know where I end, and someone else begins. 

I need boundaries

Time to pull out my copy of  Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to Say NO, To Take Control of Your Life , by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I will read it after I eat my breakfast, clean the seven litter boxes, shower, put away the folded laundry, drive my daughter to school, go see the printer about copies of my paintings, buy the black fabric, sew on the black lines on my costume, and do my bible study for tonight.

I need a bigger plate, or maybe I just need to say no.

Do you need to practice saying no?

Please let me know in the comments.

Disclosure:The book Boundaries is an affiliate link. It won’t cost you any more money if you bought it here. The few pennies Amazon pays me, helps to pay for kitty litter.

 

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Writing challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  Click on the button to read other stories. If you want to, that is. Please feel free to say no.  🙂