"The answer to "How do I tell people not to bring up that part of my life?" is simple and involves a clear, honest explanation exactly like the one in your letter."
"Yeah, and thanks for saying that. But honestly, since I completely burned out, it's really hard for me to talk about that part of my life. I know it's a totally normal thing to discuss, but I would actually prefer it if people didn't bring it up because it ends up upsetting me to think back on how everything went down. Seriously, though, thank you again for the compliment."
"Anyway, didn't you end up winning principal of the year, too?""
A direct, honest explanation can help people understand that certain compliments about a past skill cause strong distress. The response suggests using the same kind of wording as the original letter, acknowledging that the comment may be well meant while stating that it feels physically ill. An example conversation shows a friend reminiscing about early career achievements, followed by a reply that thanks them, explains the burnout and difficulty discussing that period, and requests that the topic not be raised. The reply then redirects to a different subject, maintaining appreciation while setting a boundary.
Read at Slate Magazine
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]