Trending recently has been to just say YES Please! Amy Poehler and Shonda Rhimes are all about it, and both have fairly new books out on the subject. But sometimes you can’t—or shouldn’t—say yes. There’s too many plates spinning, or life is messy. People are counting on us. We can’t always jump up or lean in.
Here’s usually how it works: Something presents itself and you’re thinking, “Okay! That sounds interesting, inspiring or fun!” But then the date approaches, and it seems there’s too much going on. You’re putting out fires left and right. You begin to think you’d better skip it… just this time. You quietly panic. You missed out! GAH! You should’ve signed up for the Italian class at the local university, and now you have to wait four months for the next one.
When something presents itself that we really want, we need to give it some thought. Make a pros and cons list. Someone has Super Bowl tix… and you don’t think you want to deal with the traffic, or crowds? How often does your team make it to the Super Bowl? If you’re a football fanatic, then go for it while you can! It may not happen again.
From Shonda Rhimes Year of Yes:
So. When I say I’m going to do something, I do it. When I say I’m going to do something, I really do it. I throw myself into it and I do. I do my ass off. I do right up to the finish line. No matter what.
No. Matter. What.
Do you have some free time, some openings, a blank space on your schedule? What does it mean to you? It’s important to weigh your options.
A job you really want has an opening. You know you qualify, but there’s a gnawing feeling in your gut because the competition will be fierce. You’re nervous. But you’ll never know unless you apply! Psych yourself up. The interview experience alone is worth tucking into your back pocket—even if you don’t get the job.
The 8 mile hike seems long, but keep going! You won’t believe how much more you’ll see when you climb a little higher. It’s worth it. You only live once, so give it it a shot. Don’t wait for all your ducks to be in a row. It doesn’t always work that way. Bottom line is like Will Smith says… “If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready.” And when the opportunity presents itself, trust your gut and see if you can pull it off!
Last weekend, I attended the Dent thought leadership conference in Sun Valley. I instantly said yes when I was invited. But… I vacillated over my decision to go all the way up to the last second. I wasn’t sure it was for me. Excited for all there was to learn—virtual reality, space and photography among an intriguing list of topics—I questioned myself until I got there. Why did I commit? Will it be beneficial? Will I be able to educate others and spread the word about celiac disease while I’m there? Can Gluten Free Sage actually make a DENT?
The reality is you won’t know until you go. Until you’re there with all the smiling faces and welcoming souls and their mind-boggling intelligence.
And yes, I did have an opportunity to share Sage’s mission—and the platform of avoiding gluten-free replacements as much as possible combined with a low carb diet—with some new friends. I got to hear their ideas and reasons that brought them to this conference as well. I explored some interesting topics and learned a lot.
Sun Valley, Idaho is not easy to get to, by the way. It takes some effort! But the air is fresh and light there. I now know why it’s called SUN Valley… lots of sunshine! It’s simply gorgeous. If I had school-age kids, I couldn’t have made the trek. But it worked for me now that my kids are grown, and it was fun to see a new part of the country, learn, and meet new extraordinary people!
All local reservations for this trip were written in a notebook. Nothing was booked online, except our hotel. It felt like I stepped back in time. The hotel receptionist, Indigo, was a sweet girl in her 20’s who was free and breezy—like she was transplanted from the ’70s. She was so very peaceful. And our snowmobile tour guide, Gary, had been a game warden for 28 years. He would stop to tell us historical facts as he led the way. I felt like a kid snowmobiling for 65 miles in God’s Country.
If opportunities present themselves and there are no restraints—or constraints on you—consider saying yes. Be receptive, open and recognize the good stuff when it comes your way. What do you have to lose… or better, gain? Say yes to the good stuff and see how life starts working for you. Sometimes it’s meant to be. 💚