PROTECT YOUR VALUES AND BE KIND

There is a principle I adopted and have been living by it for quite a long time now and I don't think I will be changing it anytime soon because it has helped me to clarify things very easily without stress, this principle is very simple, which is "when given something you can't eat or don't want to eat especially food or drinks, learn to say no kindly and apologetically, instead of disposing it at the end" it's rude to waste somebody's resources when you don't want it. A friend of mine shared an experience he had one day.

He was invited for a job by a client to come and paint a 3D wall for him in one of his rooms and he went ahead to do the job and in the process, the wife of the client offered to give him food and he said "thank you" politely because it was his first time there but unfortunately the woman took it as a yes and went ahead to dish out the food and served him which he then declined but she told him that she has already dished out the food so returning it back to the pot will not make sense and again he has been working since morning so she's sure he's hungry

He said he decided to compromise, since the woman was been sincere and she gave him her other reasons. After that, the woman told him she was going to the town to get something from her husband (the client) because he called her to go get it. As she stepped out, he decided to take a look at the food prepared and it turns out that it's not something he eats at all even at home, so he had no choice than to dispose it, since it cannot be returned back to the pot and also the woman will definitely fume if she comes back and see her food cold and not eaten at the same.

Having no other choice he decide to package the food inside a black plastic bag he came with so that he will dispose of it outside without anybody knowing, which he did and then later regretted his decision because he said he should have given anybody anywhere to eat and fill their stomach instead. "I have learnt my lesson" he said calmly emphasizing to not let that happen again in the future and I just laughed .

Settings limits and adhering to your own principles is very important than pleasing everybody. I later told him that if I were the one I would have still declined regardless and wouldn't have even opened the food because it will seem otherwise to me. It's not pride or over confidence, it's just what we call dignity.

Thank you for your time