I hate being a people pleaser

I have a tendency to be a bit of a people pleaser. If I can help you out, I generally will go out of my way for you even if I really don't want to do whatever it is you need help with. Bryan says I don't know how to say no. I don't think that's entirely true. I say no to the kids all the time. I even say no to telemarketers, religious solicitors (don't even get me started on the people who try peddling their religion door to door) and "college students" who are selling magazines and newspapers to "win a prize" (give me a break). So outside of those I just listed, I really do have a problem telling people I can't do something. And, when I do tell them I can't, I generally feel very guilty about it.

So right now I'm feeling guilty. I just got a call from the Thursday night coordinator for the religious ed program. She wanted to know if I was available to substitute for a 7th grade class this Thursday. Let's see, by Thursday my lip will look like Bubba's lip did in the movie Forrest Gump and talking will hurt and be difficult. Each day, I'm feeling a little worse with whatever this cold/sinus thing I've got going on. I know that saying no was the right thing for me, but I feel really bad about doing it now because the voice on the other end of the line sounded very disappointed. I absolutely hate this kind of guilt. Could I have subbed for this class? Yeah, probably, but it would have entailed me possibly feeling really lousy thanks to my lip and cold/sinus issue and then we can lump in the fact that Ellie would have to tag along, too. So while I'd love to help out and sub, this is not the week for it. If I'm going to take on 7th or 8th graders I want to be healthy and have my wits about me.