Here's the thing. I have a relative whom I don't particularly like. Yet, as it is with relatives, I have to see them a few times a year. And since I'm such a warm and welcoming person who can't say no to anyone and has a desperate need to cater to everyone's needs, I'm going to see them tomorrow.
Even though I just saw them a couple of weeks ago.
For the past several years, I don't remember how many exactly - probably six at least - I've had this principle: never to be alone with them in any circumstances. (Well, a couple of times they invited themselves to join a private moment I was having in the bathroom, but who counts those?) I always make sure that my spouse is present, because I know that they're less likely to pose intrusive questions and remarks if he's there.
Well, tomorrow he won't be there. But luckily, the relative has invited a couple of their friends to join, so I hope that that'll be enough to make her behave decently.
Although a part of me fears that they have specifically asked those friends to ask me questions for her, so that she can hear the answers by accident.
Needless to say, I've already begun lifting my guard up, even though the meeting isn't until tomorrow afternoon.
My strategy is to meditate the shit out of this and become a new person by tomorrow, one that just oozes boundaries and upper class and the kind of energy that no one dares pose inappropriate questions to.
Right.
We'll see how it goes.
(And if you're wondering why I don't just cut off all contact with them - that was my strategy before, always to stop contact and not answer to any of their messages whenever they stepped out of line until they learned to behave - but I've lost that privilege now. I can punish them by being cold and distant and by not answering those questions, but that's all.)
