Joy of cancelling!

Another people pleaser here. When I retired, a few colleagues would ask me to meet up for lunch, a coffee etc. I didn't enjoy it usually. It's not my 'thing'. I was too wimpy to say no. Then COVID came along which was obviously terrible but thankfully it put a stop to meet ups and they didn't resume.

I had a friend a few years ago who was from my working days. All fine while we worked together but she became rather bossy once she retired. I used to be delighted when she would cancel on me for once thing or another as she was heavy going. She finally dismissed me for not being able to make a certain lunch she wanted to go on with me providing transport. Never been more relieved.

We had friends cancel dropping in the other day because they have come down with something, had baked a cake and bought some fancy pants biccies, but was strangely relieved, ate some cake and thoroughly enjoyed a restful afternoon doing an online jigsaw whilst my DH napped.

I am a people pleaser, it gives me no satisfaction to admit this, however I started with a really bad cold on Wednesday, I had lunch out planned for Thursday, an Italian meal for tonight and a visit to a friend for a Chinese takeaway tomorrow.
I have cancelled the lot, for once I have put myself first and I am happy with myself.

I love it too when an unplanned and unexpected window opens in my diary!

I've also been known to look at my calendar and say"Nope, this is too much!" and cancel or postpone appointments (obviously prioritising certain ones ).

My daughter calls it "a response to The Overwhelm" .