I'm done with this. It's too much of a headache. Life has become all about Yelp. Yelp is basically metastatic cancer for small businesses.

I've decided not to even ask NB. I'm never sure what's going on with her but it seems like there's always a lot.

I've already received one direct "no" on this, and I'm also going to consider SM's silence a "no."

I both do and don't understand why it's this hard to get people to help in this way. On one hand, I doubt anyone especially wants yet another account with yet another huge company that will send them yet another endless stream of spam...but on the other, there's nothing in the world wrong with setting up an account to help a friend and healing practitioner of a decade or more to support themselves by doing something that might cost you five minutes, then blocking the resulting emails. I've done things like that for many people whom I don't know a tenth that well.

But ultimately everyone has their boundaries. As an adult, you ask, and you are prepared to receive a yes or a no. The client relationships and friendships mean much more than any favor I could possibly request, and I don't want anybody doing anything for me out of a sense of obligation. I do what I do for others out of kindness and willingness, and I hope any help I receive is offered in the same spirit. I know it could sound like some sort of a smart-aleck remark, but I really do mean it: it's good to know people feel more or less free to say "no" to me when that's their truth. That means I can trust their yes when it comes. (less) (less)

I've already received one direct "no" on this, and I'm also going to consider SM's silence a "no."

I both do and don't understand why it's this hard to get people to help in this way. On one hand, I doubt anyone especially wants yet another account with yet another huge company that will send them yet another endless stream of spam...but on the other, there's nothing in the world wrong with setting up an account to help a friend and healing practitioner of a decade or more to support themselves by doing something that might cost you five minutes, then blocking the resulting emails. I (...more)

I've already received one direct "no" on this, and I'm also going to consider SM's silence a "no."

I both do and don't understand why it's this hard to get people to help in this way. On one hand, I doubt anyone especially wants yet another account with yet another huge company that will se (...more)