🔥 What I Haven’t Said—Until Now 💬
Some gifts look like love but turn out to be traps. As I enter this stage of life, people begin expecting things they have no right to demand. My time. My energy. My savings. My health. Even my voice. I’ve willingly given these away, believing it would secure a deeper place in my children's hearts or those around me. But the truth is, if I keep giving away what I should protect, I risk losing myself. I’ve noticed recently how often people assume my availability just because I’m retired. Suddenly, I’m the default caregiver, errand-runner, emotional support. And at first, I say yes—because that’s who I’ve always been: dependable. But each "yes" to others becomes a quiet "no" to myself. A friend recently said something that stopped me cold: “I don’t even know what I like anymore. I’ve always been useful to others—but when did I last do something for myself?” Her words resonated deeply. She’s not alone. Many of us were trained to serve but never taught to ask, ...