For some reason, the art of saying ‘no’ puts Americans in a conundrum. If we truly were to donate to every cause, chair every board, and volunteer our talents for everything asked of us, we would be tired, broke, and unhappy. Having good manners doesn’t mean always saying ‘yes.’ It’s important to establish your own healthy boundaries so that (yes) you can actually keep on giving, in a way that counts. Here are some polite suggestions of ways to decline an unwanted invitation you might receive:
“I’d love to help. Unfortunately, I’m overextended right now.’
“That sounds great, but I just can’t put one more thing on my calendar this month. Let's touch base when things slow down.”
“If you need to know right now, I'd probably have to say no.”
“As much as I'd love to, I just can’t.”
“No, but thank you for thinking of me. I'm honored.”
Though basic, we sometime need to rehearse these perfectly acceptable responses. Besides, this way you will have more time for the things that matter most. Be upfront and honest about your intentions. If you can’t, you can’t. Not everyone has to know that it’s because you have been waiting to take get that much needed massage for three weeks.
Making Etiquette Easy,
Susan K. Medina
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