learning to say "no"

Carina, could you edit my paper?
Sure!
Carina, could you do my make-up?
Obviously!
Carina, will you give me a ride to the airport?
Not a problem.
Carina, could you finish up our project?
Absolutely.
Carina, would you run to the store for me?
I'm on it.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

Alright, maybe I can type it, but I sure can't say it. You'd think it would be easy, two letters, one syllable: No. Unfortunately, my brain can't quite process it.

I have a problem saying "no." "No" just doesn't fit into my vocabulary. I can't say "no." I feel bad when I say "no."

I feel like a bad friend, a bad sister, a bad employee, a bad daughter, just BAD.

This is strange considering I'm generally pretty feisty. I can tell people to buzz off, to mind their own business, to shut up and listen... You get the idea.

So I just don't get it. I love to be helpful. I love to make my friends' lives easier. But lately, trying to be everyone's superhero is just making my life harder... Way harder.

Does anybody else have this problem? Anybody else get over this problem? Help!

Love,

Carina K.