Sarahsmith wrote:
I said I would be at the soup kitchen today to make plans for Canada day. A bunch of people were planning on going to a very crowded pool. I got my period so I didnt go to the soup kitchen today. I cant deal with that today because there is an old man I made friends with that always wants me to sit with him and hang out after for a while. I really dont want to go to a crowded pool with no locker room. The one I go to is less crowded and has a locker room. Im afraid if I go to the pool with no locker room, someone will steal my stuff. I really hope they dont invite me anymore to the pool without a locker room. Its free every weekend and I have a hard time saying no but I have to.
I should be eating at the soup kitchen evey day to save money. So hopefully I wont chicken out and want to avoid socializing at the soup kitchen because I cant aford to eat and getting food from the food bank sucks.
In the long run I usually feel better when I enforce my boundaries. I typically manage to do this politely. There is a man in the neighbor hood who I had been greeting when I passed and one day in a shop he greeted me by simultaneously grabbing my arm and pulling me closer to him. I pulled my arm a way and very politely explained that it was nothing personal but just to let him know, I didn't like to be touched and that applies to anyone, not just him. I was as friendly about it as one could possibly be and while I think the "repremand" did make him uncomfortable, I think it had to be said, and I continued being friendly towards him and I think he eventually got over it.
I would probably tell this old man that you are glad to see him but you have a lot of things to think about at the moment and you are going to sit this one out and eat alone that day.
As far as the pool goes, why not suggest everyone go to the pool with the locker room?
29 Jun 2018, 9:03 am
