Hang on to myself in a relationship

only because in a lot of my current relationships people tend to expect more than I can possibly give. I know at this point somebody is going to have the neon sign flashing “pushing people away” in their heads but I find personal boundaries MUST be established – I am not going to have someone borrow my car WITHOUT asking me; I am not going to accompany someone just because he or she is bored shitless; and I am not going to go out of my way to make others happy and making myself unhappy in the process.

What i really need now is tact to carry this foward instead of having communication breakdowns

Found on trashy blog somewhere:

Brought up in continental Europe I remember my grandpa’s old saying: “a woman should be a cook in the kitchen, a lady in the salon, and a whore in bed, but sometimes you end up with a cook in bed, whore in the salon and a lady in the kitchen”.

I tend to focus outward rather than inward for reasons unknown. I can rationalise it in so many ways its not funny. I just know that I tend to be overly empathetic and I derive so much out of helping others sometimes I forget about number one.. I think I need to add a goal: Looking after number one!

Never, ever overextend. Think of yourself first in the relationship.. sounds selfish, but it seems to work for others.. One has to learn to curb the urge to nuture.