Monday, January 15, 2007

And another thing ...

I am doubly proud of myself today as I just said, 'No.'

Each year for the last few years I have been phoned and asked to have a pound coin collection card for a charity for brain-damaged children. I always say yes even though: a) I never ask anyone who visits to contribute (which I think is the idea) so I end up just making a donation myself; b) I prefer to choose for myself which charities to support; c) I don't like people who intrude into home time (either on the phone or at the door).

So this time I said no, sorry.

And I knew I shouldn't have written about it because now the guilt is dripping off me.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Younger Son has his first day in work today. I should make a cake to welcome him home. That is a good excuse - I mean reason.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well done Liz! Fuse wire, saying No and baking a cake, all in one day, is the way to go!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

I agree with you re the charity matter: you have to say "No" sometimes and you should be able to have a choice as to whether you give and to whom.
Hope son had a good day and enjoys the cake!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I'm brain damaged ;-)

Can I have a pound too?
Or even a pound of cake?

Clare said...

you know what I'm like for charity guilt - I'm with you all the way!! I think its the Catholic in me...Good on you for saying No though!

Shades said...

It gets easier to say no once you overcome the guilt.

An examination of any major charity accounts is rather illuminating I am told- they are all businesses now.

My charitable giving is very focussed on local small schemes or ones I have particular empathy with. I regard it is my choice not to be chugged.

James Higham said...

Don't feel guilt. As you said, you choose which charities to contribute to.

Lee said...

There's no need to feel guilty, Liz...you are free to choose who or what you wish to donate to...you are free to say 'no' or 'yes'. One can't give to every charity that comes a-knocking! I don't. And I hate people knocking on my door or disruptive phone calls...both are an invasion of my privacy...a privacy I enjoy.

rkfinnell said...

It is fine to say no. Pick the charity that you want to give to and stick to that one. Say no without feeling guilty.

Joy Des Jardins said...

I use to say yes to everything Liz...not anymore. Sometimes I feel guilty, but I have managed to say no a lot more. Honestly, even this stuff can get out of hand. If I continued to give like I did...I'd be the next charity case looking for donations. I agree with you completely.

Anonymous said...

I have three charities that I give what I can afford to, once I decided what charities they would be a number of years ago it made it easier to say no to others.

A lot of charities use emotional blackmail and I don't think it does them any good.

Liz Hinds said...

Thank you all for your support. I know it's the right and reasonable decision but it's like Clare said, 'It's the Catholic in me,' - even though there isn't any!

Stu, there is a pound of cake in the post.

Anonymous said...

Oh goody. I shall provide some ale to your cake and settle down with a good book.

By Somerset Maugham ;-)
http://www.amazon.com/Cakes-Vintage-International-Somerset-Maugham/dp/0375725024

Puss-in-Boots said...

Hi Liz

Isn't it a surprise when you say "no" and the world still keeps turning? I know exactly what you mean by guilt, but we all have the right to say no and I really don't know why we feel guilty. We just do.

I now choose my charities to give to and when the others come calling, I very politely say no, with a smile.

Anonymous said...

Drop the guilt feeling, Liz. You have the right to choose which charities you do or do not subscribe to. Which ever way you look at it, if you have not requested the envelopes / coin bags that drop through the letter-box, they are unsolicited and can be rejected.

Any chance of some cake if there's any left?