From the Editor's Computer
Of late, it seems that many people I talk to are in situations that they don't want to be in, yet they won't do anything about it because "you can't say no."
Actually, you CAN say no. I know that you are all capable of saying no because it is one the first words we all learnt, and we had fully mastered by the time we turned three years old!
Also, we all have at least one individual in our lives that we say no to on a fairly regular basis. Who is that for you? Have you ever thought about why you can say no to that person, or persons, with such ease and not to others?
One reason, is because you can be real and honest with them. Think about that for a moment. Shouldn’t we be real with everyone we encounter in our lives? Whether a loved one, or a stranger, we should be able to stand up for ourselves whenever, and however, we best need to in the various situations we find ourselves in.
We all need to say no more often, but for the right reasons - because your life and health will be better when you do. Every thought we think, every reaction we experience, is reflected in our bodies. If you are saying yes when you don’t want to, you are unduly stressing your body. Do that too many times, and your body will shut down on you.
As individuals within a society, we've also forgotten how to say no and have lost control over many areas of our lives. Truthfully, how many of us really need the latest and greatest and biggest new product as soon as it hits the market? How many of us really need to live beyond our means? Saying no via our spending habits is a more effective “protest” than the current “Occupy” movements going on in various communities.
Now, whether the person you are saying no to respects your no or not, is a completely different story. And if they don't respect your no, perhaps they need to hear the word more often?
Beth
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