I used to say 'yes' to everything, convinced I was being helpful, a good friend, a valuable employee... but really, I was just terrified of disappointing people. The worst part wasn't the exhaustion, it was the slow burn of resentment, directed at everyone but myself. Now I see that every 'yes' was a tiny act of self-harm, a little piece of me chipped away to build someone else's life. I almost wish I'd burned out completely, instead of just smoldering. At least then someone would have noticed, maybe told me to stop setting myself on fire for them. Now, the guilt of finally saying 'no' is almost worse than the exhaustion ever was.