Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Fun fact for ya' - nine times out of ten, I click 'New Post' with absolutely no idea what I'm going to write about. This is one of those times.

So this morning, my dad and I had a conversation that went a bit like this: -
Dad: Oh, what days are you free to go to Blackpool overnight to visit Auntie Barbara?
Me: Um, I don't want to go. At least, I don't really want to stay overnight. I've got loads of work to do and, you know, I want to see my friends. I'd be more than happy to go up for the day, though.
Dad: Well, we might be able to go up for just a day...*pondering face*
Me: *hopeful* I'm not really sure what days I'm free yet because nothing has been organised for definite - it's all just speculation and 'save the date' typed stuff.
Dad: If it's not planned for certain then it doesn't take priority. Can you do Thursday-Friday night.
Me:...I thought we weren't going overnight? And no I can't; I'm going to Kayley's that night.
Dad: Well that would be the best night for us...and Auntie Barbara would really like to see you. I'll ring her and ask if Thursday night is good for her.
Me: *head explodes*
*Dad exits the room, signifying the end of the epic fail that is Family Compromise*

But for a brief moment there, I thought I was going to be faced with the kind of decision I HATE making. It's not the 'massively-important-to-your-future' kind; I'm actually pretty good with those. Because you just need to do the reasearch, weigh the pros and cons, maybe get a bit of experience of the options your considering and make an informed decision on which alternative would suit you best. And it's not the little ones, where you generally don't mind which option is chosen. I'll just flip a coin and go with whatever. No, the decisions I hate are the conscience vs. preference type. Allow me to explain.

These HORRIBLE decisions, are basically the ones where you have two options.
Option 1: you don't want to do it, but feel morally obliged to, or have been guilt-tripped into it.
Option 2: you do want to do it, but will somehow be branded a horrible, selfish person if you take it.
Examples: - Do I help Grandma take her shopping back, or disappoint her and actually have lunch, with my friends. Do I go to through the hassle and expense of going to see that play with that person I'm not massively good friends with, or disappoint him and spend an evening relaxing with a good book. Do I go and see the old and frail(ish) auntie in Blackpool, or disappoint my dad and pass a few hilarious hours with my friends. See the dilemma?

And I HATE it, because I almost always take the good-person route, and almost always wish I'd taken the selfish-but-fun one. Admittedly, sometimes the less appealing option surprises me. The play with that friend turned out to be a really nice evening, and there have been many examples of friends guilting me into going to a party I couldn't really be arsed with, which I subsequently really enjoyed. So it CAN happen. Somehow, though, I don't think visiting Auntie Barbara is going to be a riot of surprising excitement. But I know I'll end up going anyway (largely because, in the end, my dad made the decision for me, albeit in a blunt and insensitive fashion). Sometimes I think I'm just too plagued by guilt for my own good. Sigh.