02/11/2025
AITA for gatekeeping my self-help glow-up?
So I (f/42) recently bought two new self-help books: The Supremacy of Self Acceptance and Mastering Detachment in 14 Days. Holiday chaos + family drama usually fry my nervous system. This year, I decided to protect my peace instead.
Cue my SIL (f/45). She comes over, says I look “different… calmer.” (Translation: jealous). I tell her about the books. She immediately asks to borrow them.
Problem: these aren’t just books, they’re workbooks. I’ve literally written down my trauma dumps, wild thoughts, and deep emotional breakthroughs inside. Handing them over would basically be like saying, “Here, take my diary, judge away.”
So I said: “No.”
No excuse, no softening, no “maybe later.” Just a clean sovereign “no.”
She sulks, then texts me later:
“When you refused me, it triggered my need for control. I feel like you only think about yourself.”
…Ma’am. The book is called Mastering Detachment in 14 Days. What did you expect?
So AITA?
A) NTA → Buy your own copy, babes. It’s literally on Amazon.
B) YTA → For not letting my SIL cosplay as me while she heals her issues.
PS: If you want to see what’s apparently powerful enough to cause family drama the link is below 👇👇
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