In my 50s: Keeping the 'Courage to Do Something' in My Hand

A story about how I finally became able to say no

Good morning, everyone.

Today, I would like to write about the theme of “Keeping the courage to do something in my hand”.





Recently, a transfer was decided within the company.


I thought, 'Thank goodness.'

But that thought was short-lived.



One day, I was called by the facility manager and went to the lounge while feeling

terrified.




The facility manager had a stern expression.

What on earth could have happened?

I was filled with nothing but dread.




Then, the facility manager said,


“I have a request...”.

“What is it?” I asked.

My heart rate hit the maximum.

“Actually, I was wondering if you could do night shifts, even if it's just once a month...”



Oh no...

It happened... night shifts... (;'∀')

No, no, please wait!

I have light sleep,

and I have a constitution that is very bad at regaining a rhythm of life once it has been disrupted.




And if sleep deprivation continues for about three days,

my brain functions almost completely stop,

a situation I have experienced many times in my life so far.

And the old me,

not realizing that about myself,



would accept such requests beyond my capacity,

as if I could do anything,



saying things like “Sure, I can do it!”

,



accepting them lightly,

and when I tried to do them,I would end up burning out




in no time.

However!I must not make the same mistake again

.After all, I'm in my 50s




.At that moment, I suddenly

remembered the books I had read recently.




“The Courage to Be Disliked” and

“The Courage to Express Yourself”.




Yes, currently, the trend in my brain is

“The courage to do something”.




So, for everything, I find myself applying

“The courage to do something”.



For example,

for muscle training,

“the courage to stand on tiptoe inside the house”, or for shopping,





“the courage to wait until the half-price sticker is put on”.

That's a bit different, isn't it? (laughs).






Because of that,

the phrase that instantly came to mind at that moment was

“the courage to say no”.

Yes, my life until now has been

a person who could not say no,even to requests that were beyond my capacity.

I was a person who could not say no.

That is because, by saying no,

Because I had a fear of being alienated.

However, the reality was the opposite.

If I didn't refuse, the demands would escalate rapidly,

leading to being treated poorly,

a shocking fact.

I was able to learn that in today's information society.

I was able to realize it.

It was only at this age that I finally realized it.

And somehow,

I was able to politely decline the night shifts.

I am myself,

and I was able to protect myself.

However, I want to praise myself for being able to remember the 'courage to do XX' at this stage.

for having remembered it.

And finally, in my 50s, I've become able to say 'no'.

I've grown, if I do say so myself.

I think that for all of you,

the phrase 'courage to do XX' might be



a handy card to have in your

mental deck! And if you all have this 'courage to do XX'






,

I'm sure you'll be able to cherish yourselves! Give it a try!

And for all of you,

please cherish yourself.

I wish for that from the bottom of my heart.

And may you live a life without regrets.

Wishing you all a wonderful day 🍀