She Said Yes, But Should’ve Said No

Last night, as I wrote in my previous post, I was drained, irritable, frustrated, and physically exhausted. After a night of refreshing sleep, I have a little more clarity. I knew exactly what took me out. It was the result of a single word, yes. For the people I love, I do whatever I can to be a part of their joy. While that’s something I will continue to do for the rest of my life, it became evident that I wasn’t putting myself first.

Yesterday was a productive day for me, and I became more energetic with the more I accomplished. With that energy, I took on more responsibilities, and said yes to any task no matter how big or small. It wasn’t until later in the evening that I felt the full weight of all that I agreed to.

While I want to be of service for the people in my life, I have to look out for myself. Growing up, my mom would always emphasize the example of putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting someone else’s as a metaphor for self-care. I can’t expect to take care of anyone if I don’t first take care of myself. That means saying no even when I want to say yes.

When we make sure our own needs are met, we become better utilized to help and be there for the people in our lives.