Recently, I celebrated my birthday with a small dinner at a local restaurant. I invited only my close friends and family, and intentionally did not invite one of my colleagues. Later, the colleague found out about the dinner and asked why she was not included. She seemed hurt and told me that she considers me a friend and expected an invitation.
I tried to explain that I wanted an intimate gathering with people I interact with regularly outside of work. I did not intend to hurt her feelings, but she felt excluded and upset. The situation caused some awkwardness at work for a few days, and I started questioning whether I was wrong to not invite her.
After reflecting, I realized that it is reasonable to set boundaries and make personal decisions about social events. Not everyone can be included in every event, and making choices based on personal comfort does not make me a bad person. I also acknowledged that communicating kindly and honestly is important to prevent misunderstandings.
Eventually, I apologized if she felt hurt but explained my reasoning. She understood and accepted it, and our work relationship returned to normal. This experience reminded me that balancing social obligations and personal comfort is key to maintaining healthy friendships and professional relationships.
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