Saying No is Okay

Fifteen year old Julia was always active on social media and had a good network of friends. One of her followers, Tom, was a boy from another school. At first, he messaged her about shared interests, like music. Julia enjoyed chatting with him, and over time, a friendship developed through Instagram.Tom started sending her messages more and more often. They were friendly and fun until one day, he asked, "Send me a photo of you in your pajamas, you always look so pretty." Julia replied that she didn’t want to because it made her feel uncomfortable. Tom then said it was “just a joke” and that she could do it “just for him.” Julia started to feel unsure and insecure. She wasn’t sure what to do. Then she remembered something her parents had told her not long ago: "If someone asks you for something that doesn’t feel right, it’s always okay to say no." Instead of sending a photo, she replied with a message: "That makes me feel uncomfortable, and if you’re really my friend, then you’ll respect my boundaries." When Tom kept insisting a few more times, Julia blocked him and told her parents what had happened.

Food for thought
True friends respect your boundaries. 
Saying "no" isn’t rude it’s self-respect.
If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you don’t owe them anything.
Listening to your gut feeling is often your best defense.
Courage doesn’t always roar sometimes, it simply says "no."
It’s okay to say No
It’s important to always know your boundaries  and to have respect for yourself and others. If someone asks you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to say no and feel safe in your decision.
My Yes is Yes, My No is No
It’s important to understand that your body and your feelings belong to you. No one has the right to pressure you into doing anything you don’t feel good about whether it’s physical, emotional, or online. “My Yes is Yes” means you only agree to something when you truly feel 100% okay with it. That applies to everything you do: where you go, who you talk to, and what you choose to do.“My No is No” means you always have the right to say no even if you already said yes, or if someone tries to pressure you. No means no. It’s a complete sentence, and it’s always a valid choice. If someone doesn’t respect your boundaries, you have every right to walk away or ask for help. Being honest about your limits is a sign of strength not weakness.