Even while shopping, I think about the money I lent.

When I think about the money I lent while shopping, even picking up a carton of milk gives me pause.

Scenes

I think about the money while shopping. — While choosing milk, I think about the money I lent. Not knowing how long I should wait, I set my basket down for a moment.
I didn’t set a date when I lent it. — My friend said they were in a bind, so I lent them money. We didn’t set a date for paying it back.
There’s no end in sight to the waiting. — My friend still hasn’t sent the money. Whenever I reach out, they say something has come up, so it’s hard to decide when to stop waiting.
Their circumstances and my boundaries differ. — In business and financial counseling, we separate the day the money was lent from the date I’m willing to wait until. Their circumstances don’t set my boundaries for me.
I write down how long I can wait. — Today, I’ll make a note asking, “How long can I wait?” Even if no date comes to mind right away, I can write down what I’m thinking now.
My boundaries matter too. — The date I wrote down may change. Still, my own circumstances matter when I decide how long to wait.