I’m looking for a word that begins with “N” and ends in “o.”

Ok. So yeah. Let me confess something to you. I have trouble saying no. Really. Well… I can say the word. No. See… that wasn’t hard. But the real trouble comes when I actually have to apply it to real life situations. The only people that I can say no to would have to be my family and very close friends… and usually I won’t say no to their requests because even though the situation may not be ideal… I WANT to be there for them. However, my family and close friends also know when I don’t want to do something. As my dear sister had informed me once:

• “When I ask you to go somewhere with me and you get a blank stare across your face… I know you’re not interested. But if you say yes… that’s what it means.”

Why can’t everyone pick up on that?

For instance:

• Sister: Do you want to see Gone with the Wind with me…
• Me: *blank stare*
• Sister: Ok…

Anyway… my issue with saying no comes in the form of trivial things… as you could tell from that brilliant example. There are just some activities that I will never fully enjoy. And when I tell people these things, some just refuse to believe it. For instance, I have a very vocal friend… I’ll call him Tom.

• Me: I don’t like football…
• Tom: What? Yes you do.
• Me: What do you mean, “Yes I do?” I don’t like football.
• Tom: Nope. We’re going to a football game this Saturday.
• Me: But…
• Tom: I’ll call you later…
• Me: Arg!

I realize this has to do with standing up for myself but still… Tom is a nice person… and only means well. Oh dear. Do you see my dilemma?

Don’t misunderstand me… I will say no… If I truly think someone is taking advantage of me or I think that I really need to stop (i.e.: like when I have to pay to do something I don’t want to do.) But with things like football… it seems silly to complain. He paid for the tickets and everything… but I still find it bothersome that some people just won’t listen.

Does that make me a good friend that I will do things with my friends that I don’t want to do just because they are my friends or should I put my foot down? I feel like I have a pretty good balance… with no… but when it comes to little things like football…I get suckered in… I just don’t know.

Ah well… this post was a little introspective… but it felt great to write it out! Thanks for reading!

Till later,

Turtle

PS: I have no problem with Gone with the Wind except I’ve read it twice… once for a literature class… another time for history… and I saw the movie three times in between… I think I’ve had enough of Scarlett O’Hara for a lifetime…