"I can’t believe I just said that…"

Sarah stared at her phone, heart pounding.

She had just typed the words “I can’t take this on right now” in a text to her friend—then immediately felt a wave of panic.

Would she be mad? Would she think Sarah was selfish? Would this ruin their friendship?

Sarah was the reliable one—the friend, the colleague, the partner who always said yes. Need a last-minute favour? She’d drop everything. Work emergency (again)? She’d stay late. Kids need something? No worries, she's the 'she-fault' parent.

Even when she was running on empty, she still showed up for everyone.

And yet, the more she said yes to others, the more she started to disappear from her own life.

Her days were filled with obligations, her energy was drained, and if she was honest—she felt resentful, exhausted, and invisible.

She knew something had to change.

So, she did the terrifying thing.

She sent the text. She said no.

And you know what happened?

NOTHING. The world didn’t end. Her friend didn’t hate her. And for the first time in years, she felt a ripple of freedom.

It was a tiny but, oh-so-potent victory — choosing herself over obligation—was a turning point.

Sarah expected backlash when she set her first real boundary. Instead? She felt lighter.

It gave her the courage to start saying no without guilt, to stop justifying her choices, and to create space for what truly mattered.

Instead of exhaustion, resentment, or even burnout, her friendships became more balanced, work stopped draining her and for the first time in years, she felt like herself again.

And it all started with one simple boundary. 💛

What About You? 

How often do you say yes when you really mean no?

How often do you feel stretched too thin, but tell yourself you just need to “push through”?

How often do you put your needs last—because it’s easier than feeling guilty?

If any of this sounds familiar, I want you to know: It doesn’t have to be this way my love. But it does require a new skill set and growing our brave.

Imagine where you could be a year from now if you started today, with a simple ‘no’, ‘not now’ or ‘let me think about it’.

Because if you don’t set your boundaries, someone else will set them for you.

Go gently, stay curious,

Deborah