Never Feel Bad For Saying No || SMAsh Contest #434

Good morning, everyone.🥰 It’s Tuesday over here, and I know someone somewhere wonders why my title for this week’s contest feels deeply personal. Well, I had an encounter with someone yesterday that made me realize how often I feel bad for saying no.

Maybe it’s because I was raised by a father who hardly said no to the requests of non-family members. Or maybe my nature of being kind has since overridden my sense of self-preservation. But sometimes, a closer look at the situation at hand may reveal something deeper.

I was at the house of a close friend yesterday when this old acquaintance called and asked for financial help. Ordinarily, I do not question anybody’s request unless I think there's something shady about their story(especially one I didn’t ask for). And this was it. They asked kindly, but I could see through the lies, and it made me wonder:

Why have people gotten so comfortable asking for financial assistance when there’s an option of living within their means?

Why are people quick to borrow money from others when it’s not a matter of urgency?

I say this because, for as long as I’ve known them, I knew they could afford a simple life. But somehow, they have become too comfortable relying on other people's generosity to sustain a lifestyle above their means.

Honestly, saying no to them was one of the hardest things I've done in a while, and I did it while feeling like there was a frog in my throat. Prior to yesterday, I assessed our relationship and began to see the role I also played in enabling them. I never said no to them, and they never cared to think that I had problems to solve with money too.

All they do is ask confidently on a random day because they're sure I have something in my pockets. I also began to see how manipulative they had been in the past whenever I hinted at being uneasy about lending them money they could easily afford if they chose to be financially responsible.

What sealed my decision was simple: If I have a strong urge to say No to anyone, then it's enough. I don't need to explain myself.

Looks like tthis post has gotten longer than intended. LOL! Anyway, I remain thankful to my friend. Without her, maybe I wwould've had a much tougher time saying no to that acquaintance.

On my way out of her home, I set my eyes on the DIY stick above. The shadows it produced were so cool and capturing them was quite easy. I bet you can tell that I love my entry, and I hope it fits this week’s contest. Have a lovely day, hunters!

All images used in this post are mine.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG!🤗