When I was about 6 years old. These training college girls, friends of my teachers from the same college, used to come for me from class to their room. I sketched for them, we talked, they cooked for me and all… I didn’t really enjoy that, cos it spanned across about 5 teaching sessions but my teachers never complained and i was kinda super smart so my grades were never affected. My dad got to know about this from some of my friends and we had a daddy son conversation, unusual from the his typical anger and not sparing the rod on my stubborn arse.

He asked me if I enjoyed this everyday thing, my answer was no. Then he asked, why then do I go? It was obvious I can’t say no to the prettiest girls in the college my teachers can’t even say no to. It was a hype and even the child me knew that.

That day daddy told me to never be scared to say no. And to let my yes be my yes and my no my no. So yes, he didn’t go to school with me to warn nobody, he let my scared self do it. The next day they came, I still went with them, but when break was over I stood up, said please, I want to get back to class, break is over. That is hardest ‘no’ I’ve ever said in my life. Surprisingly, they apologized, and they didn’t stop visiting me but they never took my school time again and I learnt how to say no.

That part of me has earned me my description as rude till today, cos I easily say no. My girlfriend doesn’t ask me how her new hairdo looks cos she knows I’ll be frantically true. I’ve hurt a lot of people in my young life cos I’ll say no when it’s not worth it, but the funny thing is I never lose them. I’m the one they talk to when they need reality to open up to them, I’m the one who chooses my girl’s clothes for her when she has to step out… I’m kinda reserved for the important things.

Aside saving you the money and all the time, it’ll earn you respect, it’ll earn you trust, it’ll earn you true love and build you a big shell of self confidence. It’s difficult but it’s worth it. Even i still find it very hard to say no sometimes, but you just have to learn the nice ways of saying no.

Thanks for sharing, and thanks for letting me here.