In another lifetime I was a bit of an artist. I rarely have time to paint or draw now but used to make personalised greetings cards for people and was a prolific badge-maker. The drawings were reasonable but obviously any arty type activity takes time.
I used to like to help people and designed many a worksheet for teachers. What annoyed me in the end was the assumption that I would make these creations at a few minutes’ notice, with use of the word ‘just’.
‘Could you ‘just’ draw a map on here?’
‘Could you ‘just’ draw a World War II tank for me?’
‘Could you ‘just’ draw a card for my mum’s birthday?’
I have never been good at using the word ‘No!’ and so for years I would smile, nod and say ‘Oh, yes! No problem.’
I called them my ‘just’ jobs and that word has haunted me ever since.
Now that I am older, you might think I’d have gained some common sense and a bit of self-respect? I’m afraid not. I still find myself saying ‘Yes’ to all sorts of things when inside my head I am screaming ‘Nooooooo!’
Lynda's Blog 