Saying no is so incredibly hard. I know for me, I'm a people pleasure by nature, so when someone asks something of me, I instantly want to say yes. However, I've also learned in the last couple of years how important it is to keep a commitment. So I would get myself into such binds....say yes to something and then have to force myself to do it.

With my MS, sometimes I just get too tired, or I'll never know how I'll feel one day, or too much will happen in a day. So I've learned to start saying "maybe". That way, if I'm up to it I go, and if I'm not I can say I'm not up to it.

It helps to have understanding friends and family and it helps to be honest about everything up front. I also learned that no is a complete sentance. The word no does not need an explanation. We might think it does, but we can just say no thank you. It takes practice, but it gets easier.

But I do find that maybe is a much better word for me.