A friend wrote on Facebook “I got an angry email from someone today who has been wanting to talk with me for the past few weeks. I’m in the middle of  many projects, and I’m supposed to drop everything to call her to chat? Keep in mind that this “chat” would be at least an hour of my time – if not more – and I just haven’t created that space for her. Now she’s pissed and wants me to remove her from my list.  Seriously?  How do you deal with unreasonable expectations of people? I know this is her stuff being projected onto me; I get it. And thank goodness it is an incredibly rare situation. But I am sitting in this question tonight, and exploring my own integrity in this, because I feel disappointed … and sad.  I truly believe that if I’m triggered, then it’s an opportunity for me to learn something about my own beliefs and even heal something from the past. The same is true for all of us – total responsibility for one’s own “stuff.” 

I replied: “This happens a lot to me. More people than I have time for would like to get me on the phone. Friends know I never have time to just chat during a workday. I let callers know I have x amount of minutes for their call and that’s it, and I stick to it.  I have to, if I’m to get to everyone.”

Pami Peace Parker said I am full agreement. Boundaries! Boundaries! Boundaries! When we are clear with our boundaries and others do not understand, they have the option to ask for clarification or respond from the level of consciousness they are at at the time.