11-03-2018, 01:02 PM
My level of assertiveness is increasing. I noticed it this morning when my wife and our roommate wanted to go out and shop for new boots. She wanted me to come with them because there were a number of other errands involved, and I’m off today. I REALLY don’t want to. I hate shoe shopping with her, and I hate shopping in general.
In the past, I have gone along to get along on this type of thing, and regretted it every time. You see, I worked in the prison system for twelve years, and crowded, noisy environments with people going around on all sides of me can really mess with me. I get hyper vigilant, and it becomes exhausting in a short amount of time. I need to get into a store and get out of it. My wife doesn’t shop that way, not even a little bit. However, I used to just go along to avoid an argument.
I this time I said “I really don’t want to go” firmly but nicely. To my surprise, she said OK, and left me to watch the kid.
In the past, I have gone along to get along on this type of thing, and regretted it every time. You see, I worked in the prison system for twelve years, and crowded, noisy environments with people going around on all sides of me can really mess with me. I get hyper vigilant, and it becomes exhausting in a short amount of time. I need to get into a store and get out of it. My wife doesn’t shop that way, not even a little bit. However, I used to just go along to avoid an argument.
I this time I said “I really don’t want to go” firmly but nicely. To my surprise, she said OK, and left me to watch the kid.