MMM: On Saying Yes

I'm not one who spends money on herself very often. It's much funner to spend money on other people. But this was a workshop that was offered at an earlier time and I remembered saying to myself that I would like to attend sometime at a future date.

And then the opportunity presented itself.

The question became, would I allow myself to take advantage of it?

I'm happy to say, I did cease the opportunity and spend a wonderful week in Carmel working on a writing project and meeting wonderful women.

The thing I want to say about this is that we often look at why we can't or shouldn't do things, when really, the question we should be asking ourselves is, "Why not?"

Life is made up of the decisions we make on a daily basis. One decision can change the entire direction of our life.

Sometimes, we say "no" to so much that we forget how to say YES to the things that will serve (save) us. We look at the money and the time and the time off we will need to take and we say, "I can't do that! I have responsibilities."

When the question we should be asking is, "Why not?" and/or "How can I make this work?"

Last week I spent 5 days with women who left their husbands and ill or young children to tend to themselves and their stories at a writers retreat. Another half were single mothers who did the same. But the results were profound, and life changing and validating in ways they hadn't expected. Only because they threw caution to the wind and said yes to the opportunity.

Sometimes we don't know what is in store for us. Sometimes there are no guarantees. Sometimes we just have to trust our instincts and trust the direction our lives are taking and be willing to trust in the unknown. We don't have to know the outcome. We don't have to have all the answers. We just have to "disperse of distrust", as the I ching says.

I had a teacher once who used to tell me when I was faced with a decision: "Choose Life". I took this to mean, make life affirming choices. Make choices in the direction of self-expression. Choose boldly.

Saying "Yes" is sometimes an act of faith. We are saying "yes" to the unknown and trusting in the possibilities we don't even know exist for ourselves.

But sometimes we have to be willing to find out.

This week, say Yes to something that will grow you. Say Yes to something you have been putting on hold. Say Yes to something you have denied yourself. Say Yes to something that scares you. Say Yes to something you have been resisting. Say Yes to something that will change your life. Say Yes.

Say Yes. While you still can.

Om Freely.