Old habits die hard

What I told my hubby was that if he dropped dead that day, they would have him replaced within a week or fortnight. That seemed to resonate with him and he ended up taking an early retirement (by two years). They whinged and whined, gnashed their teeth, rended their garments and daubed themselves with ash, but he stood his ground. Within a fortnight, his position had been filled.

Boy do I feel you!!! We HAVE GOT to start using that word ‘no’ a whole lot more!!! 

Say no @cranky_granny. You deserve better and with scans etc you definitely don't need to work. 

Good luck with the scans. Thinking of you xx

Found this on fb 
Need to get it tattooed onto my brain 

@AllyJay I will probably have to do this in the end. Don’t get me wrong I like my job I just want to do it on my terms after 25 years I have built up a substantial client base I’ve been letting them know that I am not going working forever. 

Love that Facebook quote. I am going to save that so I remember it too. I am finding saying no much easier since my mets diagnosis. I am more and more inclined to say no to anything that doesn't feel right for me. It feels so good doing this too. 

Gosh @cranky_granny - what an ungrateful lot your bosses are!  You've been busting a gut to work around your treatments & scans for them - and this is how they react!!   

I know that you 'like' your job - but it really is essential that you put YOU first in this case!  xx.   You are SO CLOSE to your retirement 'date' just now .... I reckon (if you can afford to), you should bring it forward & start doing what YOU want to do from now on, and not worry about what THEY want you to do!  

As @AllyJay said - they WILL replace you as soon as you DO leave - so there is no need for you feeling 'irresponsible' for leaving (BTW, that's why they give you holidays - so you already 'know' that they can 'do without you' ....)

And you've been keeping them up to date with your treatments & scans since your mets diagnosis - so it is hardly a surprise that you now need to look after No 1 - YOU xxx

take care & all the best for the scans xx

Saying No is fine, to preserve what’s important to you, to consider your own needs rather than simply bowing to the needs of others. But remember to say Yes too, to
new experiences, different ways of doing, assistance and shared outcomes. At any time. 

100% agree with you @cranky_granny. When I was diagnosed in September last year, I had 7 months of sick leave, 3 months of LSL and 2 months of Annual leave. These are accrued through 18 years of commitment to one organization. Immediately I went on 6 months sick leave and after that requested working from home. I want to save my long service leave and annual leave for uncertainty ahead. I will retire anyway in 2 years as I will be 67. My health has been my priority for the first time in my life. I am comfortable with saying NO to my family and my employer. Their expectations can be unrealistic because I do not show always what I am going through but when needed I will tell them before I say NO. Who on earth prefers going through cancer treatment over work?