I’ve gotten really good at not caring what other people think of me. Except the people who really matter, of course: my family, my close friends, my boss.

Otherwise, I couldn’t care less if people like me or don’t like me. Which says a lot, because as an only child, I spent a lot of my years “people pleasing”.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when I say “no” to something, some people don’t understand it. Similarly, when I say “yes” to something, still fewer people understand.

But who cares, really? I own my no’s and yeses and I’m proud of the decisions I’ve made in my life (well, most of them). I don’t feel I need to justify my yeses and no’s to anyone else besides those who matter the most to me.

So there.

YES #56 – Yes I will be calm when I book off work for a bank appointment, and show up 10 minutes early only to find that the central booking system hasn’t notified my bank of the appointment. Deep breaths. I will remain calm in the face of inefficiency.

YES #57 – Yes I will take part in a conversation about office politics even though I hate such conversations. I nod and say “mmmm” a lot. For the most part, I avoid being drawn into such conversations. But I realize my refusal to take part can be perceived as stand-offish and rude, so I maintain the minimum amount of participation whenever possible. And then I make up an excuse about a phone call I’m waiting for, and off I go.

YES #58 – Yes I will appreciate when my boss is going through a difficult day, and still makes time to smile at me and pay me a compliment. It can’t be easy to have her job amidst so many college cut-backs and lay-offs. Yes I will acknowledge she is in a difficult position, and is doing a good job.