"The Mint Juice Lesson (the Hard Way)"

They say “No” is a powerful word. It sets boundaries. It protects your sanity. It saves you from things like pyramid schemes, bad relationships, and… mint juice.

The trouble is, most of us treat “No” like it’s a curse word. We think it’s rude, impolite, or will cause someone to write us out of their will. So instead, we nod, smile, and say “Yes”… and then suffer in silence.

I learned this the hard way.

I was meeting my boyfriend’s sister for the first time. The plan was simple—smile, be polite, and leave a good impression. Then she asked, “Would you like some mint juice?”

Now, I hate mint juice. Not just dislike, I despise it—it’s the kind of hatred that comes from deep within the soul.

But did I say “No”?Of course not. I smiled like I was auditioning for a toothpaste ad and said, “Yes, please.”

I took a sip. She beamed. “How is it?”And that’s when my second mistake happened.I said, “Delicious!”

Her face lit up like fireworks at Diwali and said “I’ll get you another glass!”

Instead of politely saying No and thinking that I might offend her, I smiled and said yes, she returned with what can only be described as a family-sized vat of mint juice.

I took a sip. My taste buds died.” My soul briefly left my body, hovered above, and whispered, “You did this to yourself.”

That’s when it hit me: this torture was entirely avoidable. All I had to do was smile and say, “This is not for me, thank you.” But no — I had chosen the path of polite self-destruction.

The moral of the story?If you don’t like it, it’s okay to say, “It’s not for me.”

Saying “No” isn’t rude—it’s self-respect. If you don’t like it, say so. Politely and clearly.

Don’t drink the metaphorical mint juice of life just to please someone. Your taste buds — and your soul — will thank you.