Slow down, holidays have a way of dredging up old stuff that we then think we have to act on or those feelings color everything.
Your in-laws' anger is theirs to deal with. Don't take that on. Sometimes we have to have a boundary with unhealthy people in order for us to remain healthy.And the holidays are the best time to stay away from unhealthy people.
Labug, you stop by at juuuust the right times. I so needed to hear that I need to slow down and not let my work in reactivity be for naught. I needed that reminder today.
Boundary setting is something I intend to get very good at. I'll admit that scares me because even though I'm tough, I'm also a people pleaser... My ILs are precisely the kinds of people who need tight and copious boundaries lest they trample all over me.
It's something I really need to learn to do for myself across the board. When it came to my ILs I hoped H would stand up for me but no, somehow I usually ended up under the bus or the butt of a joke.
Leaning on myself has really done a lot for me. I'd love to learn how to non-b!tchily lay down a boundary that'll be respected even by the most pushy people. That feels like level: expert and I am still navigating level: novice. One step at a time.
I'm in hour 5 of my 9 hour shift working retail on Black Friday and I can barely remember my name let alone type on my phone but it's a good exercise.
