TFW you politely decline an invitation to speak at a meeting and then they want an explanation why.

When I first declined, I ran through possible explanations and excuses in my head, and then decided I don't need to justify myself. Then the follow-up just threw me.

I've been working for years on saying no to stuff, on not over-committing, on focusing on few things at once. I can finally do it, and I don't owe anyone an explanation when I can't perform free labour relating to a distant side project that I'm barely involved in any more. And yet.

Just.. respect peoples' energy and time, folks.