Life is too short to…

…. keep saying “yes” when I want to say “no”. I’ve become a lot better at saying “no” – although I can struggle when it’s to those I love.

We’ve all got To Do lists – and I’m willing to bet that some of them are absurdly long, even overloaded. But what about having a list of things you Don’t – or Won’t – do?

There’s some stuff you could put on a potential Don’t Do list that is about being a better person – stuff like how you treat people who are serving you: don’t be rude, don’t blame them for stuff which is outside of their control, don’t be a jerk and take advantage of the fact that they can’t tell you to **** off, but what I’ve listed below is a Don’t Do list that is all about me.

Here’s my Don’t Do list for your enjoyment 🙂

Don’t…

• say “Yes” when you want to say “No”
• be a people pleaser
• expect your body (and your emotions) to run on empty
• cut corners on your sleep
• eat junk food, except as an occasional treat
• mis-use alcohol and drugs (prescription or recreational)
• hold it all inside
• forget to have fun
• talk yourself out of good ideas
• trash talk to yourself
• beat yourself up when you make a mistake
• try to run before you can walk
• stop doing what you love if someone says it’s a waste of time
• give up on your dreams
• allow yourself to become overloaded
• harbour corrosive and bitter thoughts about other people
• overthink, mither, or become obsessive
• allow others to take advantage of you
• allow anyone to make a fool of you repeatedly
• give your trust to someone who’s proven to be unworthy
• forget to laugh, even at yourself
• forget to be kind to yourself
• feel you have to smile
• sweat the small stuff
• forget to get outdoors (it’s good for your mental health)
• feel guilty about taking “me” time
• be afraid to say “yes” when it’s something you really want
• get drawn into other people’s drama
• hesitate to walk away from people who put you down
• forget to accept compliments with grace
• worry what people you don’t like or respect think about you
• feel bad or embarrassed because you cried
• forget that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary

What about you? Do you have a Don’t Do list? If so, what’s on it – or what might you put on one?

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© Debra Carey, 2022