Has anyone seen "YES MAN"?
I had a sweet experience watching it. How liberating to see a middle-aged man (who always crosses his "t's") break out of his box. It was an encouragement to juice the day of all it has to offer and to remember that life is not about a schedule but about the relationships and experiences that come.
Well, it's been a few months since that movie, and now, I have a little bit of a different view on it. You see, I am (and have been for quite awhile) "YES WOMAN". It is extremely hard for me to say no. There are a few reasons behind this, and they're not the greatest.
While Jim Carrey found thrill, adventure and a cute girl while saying "yes" to everything, I've been finding exhaustion, bags under my eyes, and a headache that's been hanging around for awhlie. I tell you, it is hard work saying yes. Whenever I tell my parents where I'm going lately they give me this little look. You know how parents' looks can speak a thousand words. This look says, "Christen-I-can't-believe-you-said-'yes'-to-another-activity.' This look is usually followed by a concerned comment like, "You are going to burn out."
Why do I say yes to everything? As I said, they're not really the best reasons. The top one is, I don't want to hurt peoples' feelings. Ultimate people pleaser. Yes. Usually, I'm having a convo with someone and I agree to things in the excitemenet of the moment.
Reason number two is that I don't want to miss out on anything (beach trips, movie nights, etc.). I feel like it will be a waste of my time to do nothing and that it is more acceptable to always be somewhere in the evening.
The problem with all these "yeses" is that they can't really be enjoyed if you aren't awake to enjoy them. I truly believe simplicity is undervalued. We live in a land where bigger is better, faster is coveted, and people with busy schedules are applauded for "doing something productive."
But, I think what I'm learning, is that simplicity is sweet. When I'm on the go so much saying yes to every person and event, I crave going to my bed and zonking out. And usually, when I'm that busy being "YES WOMAN", I'm always looking to the next thing that needs to be done. The next check on the list. Yuck. It's like stuffing yourself on a extra large meal of delicious food. Sure, it tastes great, but you feel miserable afterwards.
I don't want to switch to become "NO WOMAN", but there's got to be a happy balance somewhere. "MAYBE WOMAN." Or, "LET ME THINK ABOUT IT WOMAN".
Signing off,
Christen
