Saturday, March 3, 2012

#LifeCircle 8 - Just Say 'No' And Get Over It

This week our LifeCircle assignment was to say 'no' to something you'd normally find hard to refuse or, worse, would say 'yes' to and cause yourself significant inconvenience as a consequence. The last time I tried to put my foot down and say 'no' (actually is was a case of 'no more') this happened. Another time I did manage to say 'no' to a good friend who made it clear that she expected me to bring my then 2yo out in the evening to an event she was holding. I got this response. So you see it's not always as easy as just being firm and saying 'no'.
On the other hand, it usually is just a case of being firm and saying 'no'. One problem is that I often want to do whatever it is. I like organising. I like being involved in community stuff. I enjoy the whole being part of something gig. But, of course the biggest problem is not wanting to let people down, worrying that they may think less of me or be offended (in the case of declining an invitation).

I made the decision that when DD is at nursery I must use the time to work. I made this decision a few times and every time something more interesting comes up, I relent. I reason that what's the point of doing freelance work if I can't be flexible with my time? Of course I can be flexible with my time - I could stay up working all night if I wanted. However, even if I wanted, I'm often too tired to do any work when DD is finally asleep. So it's a nice idea that just doesn't work and I have to use the hours I have during the day.

Last week I went out for breakfast with a friend who teaches at a college. As he was on mid-semester break, it seemed silly to pay for a babysitter in order to see him. Then a good friend from New York was here on a (literally) flying visit. I get to see her once every three years or so - how could I not have lunch with her? This week another friend asked if I were free for lunch. I would love to meet her for lunch. Believe me it'd be a lot more fun than planning 28 hours of  English language lessons for next semester (which starts on Tuesday and I've not started).

I admit there was a little guilt as this particular friend has to come in from Tel Aviv and I'd said 'no' to her last time she was in Jerusalem for similar reasons. There was a little angst in the form of: will she think I don't want to see her? She emailed me the suggestion we meet at the beginning of the week and I uhmed and ahhed at her, pushing off the final decision until today. Partly because I didn't like to say 'no' and also partly because I was hoping against all hope that I'd be in better shape workwise - there was about 0% chance of this happening.

This afternoon I emailed her explaining that I wouldn't be able to meet her for lunch tomorrow. She'd second guessed me and had already made alternative arrangements. How much better if I'd simply told her 'no' in the first place. I wouldn't  have had it on my mind all week and she would've known what she was doing much earlier without having to second guess my plans.

I have another friend who, at the slightest hint of guilt-angst, says, 'get over it.' She's so right. No one cares about these things as much as yourself. In future I'm going to just say 'no' and get over it. (btw, it helps if you say 'no, sorry'.)

8 comments:

  1. Oh yeah, I get you, I totally do. I get bogged down so much with all I have to do and I too have figured that morning is the best time to get the jobs done. Of course as my boy is 12 my morning is longer than yours. Maybe things will ease for you as your DD gets older.

    I have found over the years the need to MAKE myself make time for breakfast and lunch meet ups and have learned to juggle and prioritise in order to do so. Exhausting but worth it! I also tend to 'pencil in' arrangements to leave me some wiggle room;-) That of course doesn't work with the rare flying visits!

    xx Jazzy

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  2. Jazzy I'd like to say that only having the morning is the problem but actually DD stays for the full day and I have to pick her up at 4pm. Next year it will be 4.15. Daycare here is designed for working mothers as most women work outside the home. As for breakfast and lunch - who's got the time? I try to fit in one of them.

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    1. I don't understand how gan ending at 4:00 is supposed to help working moms. Or rather, I don't understand why the work day ends so early in Israel. In the States people only leave work at 5. This has never made sense to me.

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    2. Drop the kids off at 7am, work from 7.30 till 3.30 which is 7 hours. That's considered full time for a mother. Or alternatively, in many families the Dads drop the kids off at 7.30 or 8 but the mums are in work very early so they can get in a full day by 3.45pm. It's a tight squeeze.

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  3. Just remember that if you say no too many times people ultimately stop inviting you altogether. They simply get the hint eventually - even if it's a different hint to the one you mean to give.
    From she who is coming from Tel Aviv tomorrow and has been to Jslm 3 times since the first 'no' without contacting you. :-)

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    1. You're right - I should have said from the beginning that I need to work during the day and then there's no hints involved. It's just that every time I kid myself that I can take the time off and go out with a friend. I promise myslef that I'll work late the night before (or after) but experience has shown me that this never happens. Sorry - are you pissed off?

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  4. My mom taught me something I love. If you don't want to do something (and I know the situation you wrote about is different because you DID want to do these things), just say "I already have plans" or "I can't make it." It doesn't matter what those plans are. They might be sitting home eating Shabbat lunch alone with your family, but if you don't want to accept an invitation, then staying home is your plan. And you don't have to feel obligated to give a reason or an excuse. "I can't make it" is a perfectly acceptable response. Don't say yes to something you don't want to do just because you feel guilty saying no.

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    1. Good advice Netanya -except if it's a reguler thing then as Anonymous said above, people stop inviting you. But I have used this for one off social events that I don't want to go to. I think for the work thing I need to just be honest (to myself aswell as the other person) that i need to work during the day.

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