The power of YES!— and how saying yes can help you find your purpose.
If I asked you to tell me two IMPORTANT events in your life, what would your answers be?
Would they come easily to you? Would you be proud of your answers? Would you wish your answers were more interesting? Would you want to know my answers first? Would you need to get back to me?
I was recently reviewing a registration report for an annual event I have planned 16 times before. For whatever reason, it was this day that I took notice of one of their registration questions…
“List two important events in your life.”
Curious, and just plain nosy, I scrolled down the list to see the participants’ answers. Recurring themes – marriage, the birth of kids, fun concerts, travel, run-ins with famous people…It got me thinking…what would mine be?
I put particular emphasis on the word IMPORTANT.
Central. Significant. Critical. Key. Essential. OF GREAT MAGNITUDE. Thank you thesaurus for adding to the stress and anxiety I already felt over this question.
Yes, I am married. Yep, he’s great. 9 years of marital bliss. Yes, I have 3 kids. Yep, they’re great too.
Super IMPORTANT.
Is it wrong that I didn’t want these to be my two choices? Maybe, I can just combine them into one and then I still have one left….Can I have 5? Can we make it professional events? Do they need to be recent? WAIT, WHO AM I ANSWERING TO???
The question really struck a nerve. For days I could not come up with my ‘perfect’ answer to this hypothetical question. I was resolved to get some answers, but with that came even more questions. What type of answers deemed worthy? And why hadn’t I done those things?
My mind reeled at all the things I wanted to accomplish. I grabbed a pen and wrote them down…places I wanted to travel, experiences and adventures I wanted to have, professional accomplishments, famous people I wanted to meet, items I wanted to own, relationship & family goals.
I deemed this my “year of yes”, modeled after the Jim Carrey “Yes Man” movie, where he has to say yes to everything, instead of saying no all the time.
I wasn’t going to let anything get past me.
That was until, my very in-shape iron-man qualifying bestie asked if I would go to Napa with her to celebrate her birthday, oh AND RUN a 13.1-mile race. Come on, she said, IT WILL BE FUN!
I had a million excuses. The biggest being, I hate to run. Hesitantly, I stayed true to my commitment and I said YES. It might have been more like an “ugh, FINE.”
This past weekend I completed that half-marathon. After I crossed the finish line, my friend asked: “how did it feel?” I cried. Balled really, and not just from pain.
This goal was more than just completing a really really REALLY long run. It was three months of faithful training, despite my travel schedule, not being in shape, starting a blog, having 3 kids, a household to run, and a full-time job. It was not giving up and quitting when it hurt or was too hot, or the hill was too steep, or after you accidentally knock yourself out after smacking your head on your granite kitchen island AND kick a shopping cart and lose your toenail the week before the race. #truestory
Eleanor Roosevelt once said:
“You must do the things you think you cannot.”
I see the why and enormous power in these words at this moment. If I could do this, despite it all, I could do anything.
And so, I will.
I think we have what they call, an important life event folks, boom! Let the YES journey continue. Alright, I bought you some time, what are your two important life events?
Eventfully, Angela
Have a life event that needs to be celebrated? Contact Eventfully Angela!
Eventfully Angela is a premier independent event management partner specializing in Corporate Events. Based in Charlotte, NC, Eventfully Angela fills the resource gaps of businesses both large and small, with premium and customized services. Specialties include full-service planning, sourcing and venue selection, on-site day of support, consulting and contract audits, event marketing, experiential event design, and fully customized event registration websites. 704-754-2627 angela@eventfullyangela.com
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When I read the first line, my two answers came to me: 1) Moving out (2 hours from home) and getting a place with my boyfriend. 2)Learning to drive-gaining the independence and allowing me to move home. As I continued to read this post I questioned myself and now I wish I could think of better, more interesting answers. Thanks for this post. It’s really made me think!
I am so glad!!! I love your answers. But I also love living curiously….thank you so much for reading and for your comment
Great content. I loved it so much. It’s really good 😊
Thank you so much!!
You are welcome 😊
VERY VERY timely question for me, my sweet friend! I’m so proud and excited that I stumbled upon your newest adventure online. I miss bumping into you on the sidewalk and our bargain hunting adventures and the sometimes weekly, “come see what I scored at Goodwill” texts. I don’t have my answer to your excellent question yet….. BUT I’m working on it. Perhaps a trip to the ATL is in order or just let me know the next time you come to town. We have A LOT to catch up on!
Oh how I miss you!!!! Hop in the car and come right now…we could go on a goodwill spreeeeee. There is no shortage of flea markets here either. It’s been so long since I have gone. I am also old fashioned and still enjoy talking on the phone! So Call anytime. Can’t wait to catch up. Thank you so much for stopping by the blog and for your support! It Means the world!!!!!