As I've gotten older, I find it easier to say "no" than I used to. I had a friend who would ask me to take him somewhere and I didn't want to go. I'd say "no" and the request would not stop. That irks me. I think that when people don't take no for an answer, it's usually means that something they had asked you for is a favor for them. It's all about doing something for them but it's not about you.

There had been many times when I lost out on some friendships because of saying "no". When that's the case, then they were not good friends to begin with.