Giverâ Era is Officially on Hiatus
Hey everyone, Tina here. Pull up a chair, grab a snack (because I certainly donât have one to share right now), and letâs have a little heart-to-heart about the state of my âcustomer serviceâ department.
You know that friend? The one who is always the âfixerâ? The one people call when they need a jumpstart at 2 AM, a $20 loan until Friday, or a shoulder to cry on because they ignored your advice and went back to their toxic ex for the fourteenth time?
Yeah. For a long time, I was that girl. I prided myself on being the reliable one. I had the âI got youâ energy on lock. But lately, Iâve realized that my âI got youâ tank is running on fumes, and the fumes are actually just me hyperventilating into a paper bag.
Reaching the Limit: Entering the âDonât Ask Me For Nothin'â Season
The other day, someone reached out asking for a âhuge favor.â My eye started twitching before I even finished reading the text. It wasnât even a hard favor, but my brain immediately went into lockdown mode. It was in that moment I realized Iâve reached my limit. I have officially entered my âDonât Ask Me For Nothinââ era.
I saw this quote today that basically summed up my entire soul in one sentence:
âIf u need anything, I mean anything, donât hesitate to ask another mf cause ion got it.â
Read that again. Let it marinate. It is poetic. It is honest. It is my new voicemail greeting.
The Reality of Setting Boundaries
I know it sounds a little harsh, but hear me out. Setting boundaries is usually described as this elegant, peaceful process where you sit in a lotus position and say, âI am protecting my peace.â
In reality? Setting boundaries feels more like closing the shutters, locking the door, and pretending you arenât home when you see the âCan I ask you a question?â bubble popping up on your phone.
What âIon Got Itâ Really Means
âIon got itâ isnât just about moneyâthough, letâs be real, inflation is out here acting like a supervillainâitâs about everything:
1. Emotional Labor
I am currently at capacity. My empathy meter is at 1%. If you tell me your problems right now, I might just respond with âdang, thatâs crazyâ for three hours straight because I simply do not have the bandwidth to process your drama.
2. Time
If you ask me to help you move, just know I have a mysterious back injury that only flares up when I see a cardboard box.
3. Energy
I used to be the person who would stay up late helping people figure out their lives. Now? If itâs past 9 PM, my brain has already clocked out, filed its taxes, and gone to sleep.
Overcoming the Guilt of Being âPoliteâ
I think a lot of us feel this way, but weâre too âpoliteâ to say it. We keep saying âyesâ until weâre bitter, tired, and looking at our friends like theyâre chores.
So, Iâm giving you permission to join me in this season of unavailability. Itâs okay to tell people that the shop is closed for inventory. Itâs okay to admit that you are currently the âmfâ who needs help, rather than the one giving it.
A Quick Guide for Those Asking for Favors
So, if youâre reading this and you were about to text me to ask if I can âjust quicklyâ do something⊠please refer back to the quote above.
- Do I love you? Yes.
- Am I rooting for you? Always.
- Do I have the mental, physical, or financial resources to solve your current crisis? Refer to the previous answer.
Refilling the Cup
Iâm taking some time to refill my own cup. And honestly? My cup is currently a thimble. Itâs going to take a while. Until then, there are approximately 8 billion other people on this planetâsurely one of them has what youâre looking for!
Stay hydrated, stay blessed, and most importantly, stay away from my inbox with âfavorsâ for at least three to five business months.
#emotionalBurnout #FriendshipBoundaries #HealthyRelationships #MentalHealthAwareness #personalGrowth #protectingYourPeace #SayingNo #SelfCareTips #settingBoundaries #storiesFromTina #TheFixerMentality