I'm working on boundaries and saying no. I'm reading a book about it this morning, in fact!

A friend asked me to do a job for her. I agreed, even though I wanted to say no, because I felt like I 'should' do it. In hindsight, I really wish I had said no. I have encountered frustrations every step of the way.

The latest is this: my friend sent an email to a half dozen people, asking us to schedule a time next week for me to come in and work with each of them one on one. She suggested that I come on the day of some big meeting, but didn't say what the day was.

I asked when their meeting was. I also listed the three out of five days that I am available next week.

One of them wrote back to tell me that their meeting was on one of the two days that I am not available and said that day was perfect for her. Now four people have agreed that I should come in on that day.

I am just sitting here, shaking my head. I thought it was pretty lucky for them that I was available on such short notice for three days next week and they all choose a day I didn't list as an option?

I am not sure how to handle this. Technically I could meet with some of them that morning - my other commitment is in the afternoon. However, there's no way I could complete all the work that morning, so I would need to make multiple trips - plus, I resent the fact that they expect me to come in on a day I said I wasn't available.