Day N of the 2013 Blogging from A to Z April challenge. Today’s topic: No.
Such a simple little word. No. N-O. Nu-uh. No way. Not gonna happen. No, no, no.
When I was younger, I read voraciously. I read good books, okay books, and bad books. And I always finished them. If I started a series, I read them all, complaining about how much I disliked them. But I still finished.
And then a few years ago I had an epiphany. I could say NO to a book I didn’t like. It was okay for me to not finish it. In fact, sometimes it was great if I didn’t finish; I had more time to read things I did enjoy.
And so I’ve been branching out and saying NO more often. No, I’m not going to continually go out of my way to help someone who never helps me in return. No, I’m not going to sit quietly while my bosses encourage my coworkers to make up program data. No, I’m not going to let someone get away with spreading false rumors and ideas or using offensive slurs.
Recently I’ve expanded this to people too. If someone in my life is a negative influence, and rather than have a debate based on reasoned ideas would again and again prefer to resort to hyperbole and insults, or would constantly tear me down for my actions and opinions, what do I gain by having him or her in my life besides constant anxiety?
So I’ve said NO. And I feel so much better for it.
Sometimes you have to put your foot down and cut your losses. Life is too short to spend on bad books, or with bad people.
What do you say NO to in your life?
