Why Saying “No” Was the Hardest Thing I Had to Learn


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Hey there, Reader!

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There’s a difference between being kind and being accommodating at your own expense—but it took me a long time to learn that.

Especially when you’ve been raised to be agreeable. Easygoing. Helpful. Someone who doesn’t “make a fuss.”
And when chronic illness enters the picture? That conditioning doesn’t just stay—it digs in deeper.

Before I got sick, I was the person everyone could count on.
After I got sick, I still tried to be that person… until my body made it impossible.

Every time I pushed through, said yes too quickly, over-explained, or apologized for cancelling… I crashed.
But I still kept doing it.
Because saying “no” felt selfish.
Because I didn’t want to be difficult.
Because I thought if people understood, they’d be more patient. More supportive. More kind.

But I’ve learned something that changed everything:

You don’t need to explain yourself into being taken seriously.
You don’t have to educate in order to earn care.
And you don’t owe anyone access to your time, energy, or body—especially when you’re running on fumes.

In my latest post, I’m sharing the boundary-setting habits I had to learn the hard way.
It’s not a step-by-step formula. It’s not a magical mindset shift.
It’s a real look at how I unlearned people-pleasing after chronic illness forced me to stop pretending I could keep up.

I’ll walk you through:

  • What I used to do (and what I do instead)
  • How I built confidence in my boundaries even when it felt awkward
  • Boundary scripts I actually use in real life
  • How I handle people who don’t respect my limits

If you’ve ever struggled with protecting your energy because you didn’t want to “let anyone down”—this one’s for you.

👉 Read it here: Chronic Illness, People Pleasing, and the Boundaries I Had to Learn the Hard Way​

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✨ Back-to-School Reset for Spoonies​
This time of year always feels like a fresh start—but chronic illness makes “new routines” tricky. That’s why I created the Complete Daily Chronic Illness Management Guide. It’s my low-spoon system for staying steady through seasonal shifts.

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Until next time,

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April Smith | Chronic Illness Adaptability Guide
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Owner & Founder of The Thriving Spoonie​
​Email | Bluesky | Pinterest​

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Take control of your energy and routine—grab The Complete Guide to Daily Chronic Illness Management and start thriving today.

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April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie

đź’ŞI create resources to help people adapt to living with chronic illness so they can thrive.

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