I am undoubtedly, incurably, a doormat. I find it inordinately difficult to say ‘no’, no matter how trivial the situation, especially when dealing with people I don’t know very well. I’m nauseatingly polite to everyone, even when politeness of any kind is unwarranted. Some people may mistake this compulsive behavior as being ‘nice’, but that’s a fallacy.
I’m not actually ‘nice’, because sometimes I feel so frustrated, and I really want to be assertive. People who are actually ‘nice’, whatever that really means, wouldn’t have to try so hard.
I can see the people close to me getting exasperated with my behavior, but its like I’m trapped in a glass bottle. I can wail with irritation and helplessness within the walls, but no one can hear me outside.
The rationale I tell myself is that I behave this way because I don’t want to hurt anyone. I even pepper my messages with copious emoticons, so that there isn’t the least chance of being misinterpreted.
I like to call this the ‘Mother Teresa Complex’. It basically involves a tendency to babysit all those who express their distress, or intimate it in any way. By the end of it I’m more often than not curled up into a ball of sheer inertia, depressed beyond consolation.
Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it feels wonderful to be able to help. It’s not wrong to be polite and nice to people, but when it begins to affect your own life, and the lives of those around you, then it becomes a problem. What bothers me the most about this affliction of mine is that by doling out sympathy to everyone around me, I become drained. The people close to me are then left to deal with an anti-social, cynical husk of a person.
I wish I could change. I need to change. I’ve subsisted for 22 years as a doormat. I want to be myself now, whoever that really is.
The Mobius Strip 
AH….If you set your mind to it….you will succeed my friend…..within reason of course. Good luck!:)
Thank you! I’ll give it my best shot! 🙂
Hi Amrita 😀 Wow. You are half way there already by writing this post. There are times when the permanent “ears” must change into a “voice” by saying what you really feel. You may be scared, but don’t be. Be your gentle self and at the same time be yourself by not being that “door mat”. Tell that person how you really feel about the “situation”. Do it once and your heart will sing. You’ll be so happy and say to yourself “I did it !!”. The next time will be so much easier. Ralph xox 😀
Hi Ralph 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement…I’ll really try my best 🙂
I am sure you will be successful in finding your true self my friend. 😀
Go girl!
😀
Oh, don’t be a doormat, you deserve your needs heard and met. It is scary, though, especially as you try to change your habits, others may push back, but stay strong. You deserve to be heard.
Yes, it is scary…Thank you so much for the encouragement 🙂
I believe in you. You can be who you want to be. 🙂
🙂 🙂
Hard to change ways. I want quiet and privacy. Some people are kind hearten and in the end. They hold friends and know love. A very good poem. Open the door to a long and interesting conversation.
Thank you for your kind words.
I agree with you. I also prefer quiet and privacy, being something of an introvert.
I had four children and three grandchildren now. Quiet and privacy is rare.
Wow! 🙂
My mother has six siblings; she often tells us stories about her childhood. Big families are wonderful in so many ways.
I just live with my parents and my brother…
I like my family near. I enjoy my time with Grandchildren. A proper family teach us how to live right.
I couldn’t agree with you more.