Did I Say No?
One of the emails I get consistently is about being tired. My friends are tired. Over-worked, frustrated, too busy, always on the go, no time for her/himself. Wow, can I relate? I think so.
One of the things my husband says to me on a regular basis is, "you need to learn to say no."
I'd like to know how to do that. When an elderly friend calls and needs help with her computer, she has no money to hire someone, is she where I start saying no? Or what about the friend who calls when I'm working on another project and "just needs to talk a minute". She's lonely. Do I say no to her? Or what about the fellow writer friends who want to send me parts of their manuscript for my critic? Do I tell them no?
I know you understand where I'm going. How do you divide your time? How do you say no?
I developed a plan of my own a few years ago. It's called PRAYER. Yup, that's "all" I do.
When I am feeling weary and frustrated and overwhelmed, I realize it's because I haven't included God in my plans that day. I've tried to "fix" it all myself. I can't do it. In fact, I never could do it by myself.
The hard part is not letting myself feel guilty about re-arranging my priorities. The laundry can wait. Grocery shopping doesn't have to be done this minute. Several tasks I've got on my list can be put off until tomorrow.
That's one of the things my hubby tells me all the time. "Do you have to do it today?" He's right. It can wait.
I'm baking chocolate chip cookies for him, but I think I can do it tomorrow.
One of the things my husband says to me on a regular basis is, "you need to learn to say no."
I'd like to know how to do that. When an elderly friend calls and needs help with her computer, she has no money to hire someone, is she where I start saying no? Or what about the friend who calls when I'm working on another project and "just needs to talk a minute". She's lonely. Do I say no to her? Or what about the fellow writer friends who want to send me parts of their manuscript for my critic? Do I tell them no?
I know you understand where I'm going. How do you divide your time? How do you say no?
I developed a plan of my own a few years ago. It's called PRAYER. Yup, that's "all" I do.
When I am feeling weary and frustrated and overwhelmed, I realize it's because I haven't included God in my plans that day. I've tried to "fix" it all myself. I can't do it. In fact, I never could do it by myself.
The hard part is not letting myself feel guilty about re-arranging my priorities. The laundry can wait. Grocery shopping doesn't have to be done this minute. Several tasks I've got on my list can be put off until tomorrow.
That's one of the things my hubby tells me all the time. "Do you have to do it today?" He's right. It can wait.
I'm baking chocolate chip cookies for him, but I think I can do it tomorrow.
Published by Kathryn Neff Perry
Kathryn writes inspirational Christian poetry. She is also a Christian motivational speaker who strives to inspire and encourage with a little humor along the way. She is the author of the Boone's Creek myst... View profile
Teen Parents: Just Say No!Teen parenting is tough these days. Don't be afraid to say no! It could be that one last no that changes your child's life forever.- How to Say No Without Feeling GuiltyWe all feel at some point that saying No, may have hurt other people but in reality, saying No can only mean that you have the courage to deal with everything that has the possibility of acquiring something you don't...
Parenting Advice: How to Say No to Your KidsAlthough I am definitely no parenting expert, I feel like some parenting tips have been very helpful with encounters that I have had with my children and here are some of the mo...- Just Allow the Party of No to Say No One More TimeYou have the Tea Party goddess Sarah Plain disseminating misinformation that it is a huge tax increase. Why--because the red staters are so clueless they believe it. She wouldn't be peddling it if there weren't buyers.
- 4 Reasons to Say No to Alcohol at PromNot only are there several reasons to avoid alcohol at your prom, but there are also many reasons to avoid alcohol in your teenage years completely. I have written this article on the 4 reasons to say no to alcohol at...
- How to Say "No" in a Busy World
- Say No to Hell
- Ways to Say No Without Causing Conflict
- Addiction is Society's Problem and "Just Say No" Is Not the Answer
- When and How to Say No to a High-Paying Writing Gig
- How and When to Say "No"
- Pushover Grandma: When Grandparents Can't Say No