Saying "Yes" - Part 3
Sometimes saying yes isn’t difficult at all. When I got an invitation to go to dinner with a friend of mine who I hadn’t seen in a while, it was a resounding “yes.” This friend was the one who began to open my eyes to the idea of the universe and the power of the mind. She took a risk when she made the phone call to me. She told me about what she had learned and more importantly experienced in her own life due to changes she was making in her world. While I respected her and trusted her, my disbelief in the world made me resistance and critical. I sat with what she said, and I began to make connections. While I was still hesitant, I jumped on board with an opportunity to learn about myself and grow to create the life I always dreamed about. This was a gigantic step for me as I stay very close to home. I am a ritual and routines type of person, and I rarely venture out to the unknown. Taking a leap of faith and trying something that seemed so out of line with my linear and logical brain was a huge step.
It was great to see her smiling face and feel her positive energy as we embraced at the restaurant. I was reminded why I said yes so quickly when she asked to get together. We immediately began talking and catching up on life. Our conversation turned to books and what we are reading. The craziest thing is that we are both in the middle of the same book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill as well as reading different books by Brené Brown. This was evidence of all of what I have been immersing myself in. This idea that there is a connection between all human beings and there are times when you are operating on the same frequency with other people. She and I were synergizing.
We spent several hours at the restaurant catching up and engaging in deep conversation. I so appreciate the time and the connectedness of our discussion. It is such a gift to connect with another person on a deep level. So much of my life is spent on the surface level or just below that level. I live protected and guarded, not wanting to reveal myself. I have learned in my life that not everyone is deserving of knowing the deep, tender parts of myself, so I reserve those parts for people I trust. This friend is one of those people, and I am so fortunate that she is a part of my life. As the evening came to a close, we said our good-byes and went on our separate ways.
As I drove home, I reflected on the phone call and how it changed my life. It catapulted me into a world of new ideas, frames of thinking, and believing in myself. It was the catalyst behind me finally writing the book I had always dreamed about. It provided a lens to look closely at my life and dream about what I want to make of this gift. It shifted the dialogue I have with my children, my close friends, and my parents. It opened my eyes to possibilities and excitement, rather than living in the constraints of the life I believed I was destined to live. For the first time in my life, I am taking big chances and practicing removing the armor I have worn my whole life. I am allowing people to see me for who I am, rather than living behind the mask I believe they want to see. It is terrifying and invigorating all at once. I am and forever will be changed because of that phone call.
Messages to my daughters: Try new things and push beyond your comfort zone. Be open to new ideas and try them on for size. It can be scary, overwhelming, and feel very uncomfortable. This act continues to support your growth as a human being and helps to make you a better and happier person. You may not like everything, and you may choose not to do it again, but try.