Have you ever felt like you had to draw that line in the sand when confronted with an unpleasant situation or circumstance beyond your control? It starts with someone requesting something that does not feel reasonable. A “no” rises from within, which you may want to second-guess in the moment and squelch for the sake of playing nice. Except the situation does not feel so nice—or safe. Instead, it crosses a boundary. So, you look at your options and weigh the potential outcomes and consequences. Deep down, you know your answer: it is still a resounding “No!” You triage your feelings of disbelief and mistrust that this person expects x, y, or z from you: Really? You’re asking me to do what?!
Then you take a step back. You are not playing this game anymore. You are bowing out, going home. So, you draw your line in the sand. You take your shovel and pail, the tools with which you crafted the sandcastle that the other party wants to change or demolish. It is not your vision. And clearly, they do not share your perspective, and that is okay (for them). As you walk away from the beautifully constructed sandcastle, the wind whispers, “One door closes, and another door opens.”
You head toward the shade trees bordering the beach as a wave comes crashing along the shore and gobbles your sandcastle. The line you have drawn in the sand rapidly fills with foam from the advancing and retreating surf. But you still have that line in your psyche. It lets you know that you are safe from those who would use you because it suits them. That line in the sand is your healthy boundary.