Thank you, No!

  
This is Pandora. She is one of the five animals, three dogs and two cats, that lives with me. She has learned that if she wants to stay near me when I’m working, she can’t bump my hands or sit on the keyboard. I’d like to think she’s helping me. Of course, she really isn’t. But, because she isn’t getting in my way, I don’t tell her “no”.  

But what do you do if someone is trying to help you and you do not want their help or like their advice?  I used to say “No Thank you”, rather quickly. But then I was called ungrateful, a bitch, or rude. 

Are we really supposed to accept help we don’t want just because it is well intentioned? Are we to go along to get along? Are we to compromise to make someone else feel good?

NO!  Thank you, but NO! NO, No, no!

It is not my job to make you feel good. It is not my responsibility to do things your way because you offer. It is not up to me to say yes, just because you ask or offer nicely. 

Not saying what I thought, because of potentially hurting someone else’s feelings got me into a world of deep shit for far too long. 

So, I’m not going to be rude, but I will be firm. Thank you, no.  And no means NO!