You could not have wished (or not) to meet two more cynical people than us when we first met in 1989. It was probably the major thing we had in common actually!
If anyone was nice to us, we’d ask ourselves
‘What do they want?’
‘What’s their ulterior motive’?
and how did it benefit them.
One of the reasons we moved away was to escape being expected to revolve our lives around other people and we grew tired of being at their beck and call 24/7 (we were once asked to drive 18 miles to put a bin out because it was raining).
It took a while and cost us a few friends who actually weren’t, but we learned the importance of the word NO. Even better was the use of it without feeling guilty!
It’s a different story now of course. We still have our cynical moments, but they are so few and far between, we don’t really notice!
Written for https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/79388113/posts/2820675903
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About pensitivity101
I am a retired number cruncher with a vivid imagination and wacky sense of humour which extends to short stories and poetry. I love to cook and am a bit of a dog whisperer as I get on better with them than people sometimes!
We have recently lost our beloved dog Maggie who adopted us as a 7 week old pup in March 2005. We decided to have a photo put on canvas as we had for her predecessor Barney, and now have three pictures of our fur babies on the wall as we found a snapshot of my GSD so had hers done too.
From 2014 to 2017 'Home' was a 41 foot narrow boat where we made strong friendships both on and off the water. We were close to nature enjoying swan and duck families for neighbours, and it was a fascinating chapter in our lives.
We now reside in a small bungalow on the Lincolnshire coast where we have forged new friendships and interests.
It took a while and cost us a few friends who actually weren’t, but we learned the importance of the word NO. Even better was the use of it without feeling guilty!
Was this a part made up story, or really true regarding being expected to put out a bin because it was raining?
Yep. MIL.
Lol. Was getting ready to say, I hope you told the person where to stick that one. 😂
we did……….. she didn’t like it and asked her neighbour instead!
What a cheek.
It was her way I’m afraid.
A lesson well learned 💜
We honestly thought it was us at fault because our ‘friends’ were dropping us like hot potatoes, then we realised that this happened when we couldn’t do them a favour, like look after the dog (2 weeks whilst they had a holiday in Mexico!) or be a taxi service so that they didn’t have to drive…… that ‘friend’ nominated me to take her friend home even though she lived four miles in the opposite direction but I did it that once, because it wasn’t the old lady’s fault.
What a nightmare these people can be. We have had loads of similar incidents ourselves. As you say as soon as you start to say no you get dropped like hot coals.💜
It’s all different now thank goodness.
💜
It’s said that cynics have less heartache as they are always expecting the worst!
Well, I suppose that’s true to a degree, but we can be hurt just the same 😦
Because, I think that we really cannot overcome the inner romantic.
I know those phone calls which often have you thinking (or maybe even saying), “You want me to do what?” Glad you learned to put your foot (feet?) down. You don’t really need friends like that. (BTW, tomorrow is trash day here at my house – just so you know in case you want to fly over and put my bin out. I can’t welcome you, though, ’cause, you know, COVID.)
hahaha. Would love to fly over, but not to put your trash out!