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As I await dinner and the climbing adventure scheduled for afterwards, I figured I'd put in a word just for the sake of doing so.

I have realized as of late that I don't particularly like being pressured into things. I'm not talking about assignments given to me by my professors, and if I was employed I would gladly do the work placed in front of me by my employer. No. I'm talking about things of the non-mandatory nature such as, playing Spoons. I had this confront me the other night. There is nothing wrong with playing Spoons. However. I was fine with being an observer. Really, I just didn't want to play. Some around the circle were not ok with me not playing. As they implored me to play, stopping short of grabbing me by the arms and yanking me into the circle, my resolve only strengthened.

I have had this come up with numerous things. Going to the movies. Basketball. Halo matches.

Some nights I am ok with just chillin'. Others I may want to go out someplace and do something. Some nights a movie just doesn't sound like fun.

I seem to recall a similar attitude in my father while on Douglass-Adent-Tai family retreats to the beach. He just wanted to sit and read his book. Not go wander around in the sand. Not throw a football around. Not play a card or board game.

He just wanted to sit and read his book.

He didn't mind people asking him to do things. He did mind when people didn't respect his answer. He didn't like having to respond a certain way, especially under duress, in order to shut up whoever was bugging him.

This was fine. It's simply a character trait of his, and my dad is amazing. In fact, once I was old enough to figure it out, this particular trait worked in my favor much of the time. I am not exactly a fan of the beach, so I didn't mind just because it gave me an excuse to not go to the beach. I didn't realize I was like this as well until I started to get heated when someone wouldn't leave me alone.

"Nope. I'm hiking."

"Why don't you want to go to the movies with us, Brandon?"

"Because I want to hike."

"But I heard this movie is REALLY good and we REALLY want you to come. Give me a reason you won't go."

"OK. FINE. I'll give you three. 1.) I won't know you better at all after I've spent $10 to sit through 2 hours of mind-numbing, brainwashing, typical Hollywood-know-nothing media. 2.) I don't have $10, nor am I willing to waste two hours of my life pretending that I want to be in a movie theater. 3). I'm going hiking."

"Ok, whatever. You're such a party pooper." (They say this thinking they're going to change my mind, when really, I'm just glad they've stopped bugging me.)

Hint. If you've had to pull out the name calling, you've already lost. So don't go there. Someone who knows me can generally tell when my resolve is going to break, so they know when to quit and when to keep going. I generally do this weird wincy-teeth clench thing.

I am not by any means being anti-social in not accepting your offers for activity. By all means, keep asking me to do things. I love being with people, and I would rather be thought of than not. Just know that asking me twelve times isn't going to change my mind if I am not into a particular activity.

I just thought I'd make ya'll aware that I'm aware of this tendency. I don't like how I deal with it all the time, because I could certainly be more tactful and loving at times. I'll work on it. In the mean time, just know that it's nothing against you should I decline an invitation.

There. That was more involved than I thought it would be.

A topic is burning, and I've been formulating for about the last week, and I'm about ready to express it. Look for it within the next few days.