A dose of realism after my last post about saying yes…

Say Yes is a powerful Catchphrase: Embrace new opportunities, Grow and Develop…

AND: Saying YES Isn’t All Glamorous…

It can bring moments of Hardship, Change,, Resistance and Stress.

Thirty years ago, I said yes when I accepted a job here in California. At the time, I was living in Rhode Island. I was a single mother of a two year old son. One day, quite literally out of the blue, I was offered a job for which I hadn’t applied. Within a few minutes, I had said yes. Didn’t think it out just said yes…

Within two months, my son and I were on a plane to California to a life that I hadn’t planned. Had I spent more time thinking about the risks inherent in such a move, my yes might have been a no.

But here’s the thing: With great risk comes the potential for great reward. That has been true for me.

With a caveat: Great risk – for me – means a calculated risk….moving to California, essentially sight unseen, still involved family support, friends new and old who stepped forward to help and a solid professional opportunity. Still, it was very hard…at times, I didn’t know if I could do it. Nights when I would worry…cry…some panic attacks thrown in…

But, that’s where faith in ourselves plays a huge part…Faith that we can figure things out. And a willingness to ride some rough waves with our sights set on success…tenacity and resilience and a good support network.

Looking at the totality of an experience vs the specific moments – good and/or bad – is an indicator of the prudence of a choice. Essentially, a hindsight evaluation…

Would I make the same decision now, thirty years in the rear view mirror? Absolutely…

Could I have been better prepared for the intermittent fallout? Absolutely…

That’s where wisdom develops, though, on the sharp edge of experience…

What has your experience with saying yes been like?

PS Check out my book Diary of a Curly Top, Everyday Reflections Through Art is available on Amazon at  https://a.co/d/51OjEws