They say that every toddler goes through the "NO!" phase. You can say just about anything to them and their response will always be those two little letters. It doesn't even matter if your asking them a yes or no question.
"Where is mommy?"
"NO!"
As frustrating as those kids are, I aspire to be like the toddlers. I didn't ask my mother, but I'm willing to bet that I wasn't in that phase for very long. I'm a people pleaser. I've been that way for as long as I can remember. I've never liked saying no to anyone over just about anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to fall into peer pressure and do the things I shouldn't, but if someone asks me for help I can't make myself say no. (However, I've gotten really good at saying no when my parents tell me to clean... Maybe that's a teenage phase...?)
I hate the pressure of the possibility of feeling like you've let someone down by not helping them. I've somehow managed to stretch myself thin over things I shouldn't be doing anyways. I've taken on tasks for five different people recently, on top of all of my finals. I'm currently living off of coffee and five-hour energy. Yeah, everything is getting done, but I know that none of it is at the quality or speed that it should or could be done at. I didn't give myself enough time to take care of my life, so its eafecting just about everything I do.
It's literally no one's fault but my own. I knew what I already had on my plate. I knew that I'm stretched thin and that I'm honestly probably about to snap. (You probably don't want to talk to me until summer break...) Those people asking for my help didn't know that I was already committed to so much. It took me 19 years, but I'm realizing that taking on these tasks isn't only hurting me, but it's hurting the people that I've offered to help as well.
It's been extremely challenging for me to come to that conclusion! I've always tried to reason with myself by saying "as long as it gets done, then no harm, no foul!" However, I was most definitely incorrect! Half put together work is entirely worse than not doing it at all. I don't want to put my name on anything that I didn't put full effort into! I don't want anyone to think that I'm not capable of finishing projects to perfection! My friends and coworkers deserve more respect from me than poorly cut corners.
As I continue my way through college, I've definitely improved on my ability to manage my time. However, I've failed to improve on my ability to learn when enough becomes too much. I just have to remind myself that its okay to say no. Giving my friends and coworkers the time to ask someone else for help is helping them more than a thin spread helping hand from me.
