“At the side of the everlasting why, is a yes, and a yes, and a yes.” ~ E.M. Forster

A couple of years ago, my son’s grade four class took a field trip to a conservation area with dozens of caves to explore.

Before too long, the kids were on their hand and knees, crawling into the low caves and discovering larger ones as they progressed through the cave network.

The adult chaperones stood outside the caves, listening and calling out to our little spelunkers as they explored.

“Are you all right in there? Everything OK? Do you need your water bottle?”

The kids were having a blast. The adults were — well, adulting.

Except for one mom, Jessie. She was down on her hands and knees crawling through the caves right alongside the kids. Her voice echoed through the caves as she called out to her fellow explorers and laughing when her head bumped against one of the cave ceilings.

“That was brave of you,” I observed as we sat down at the park picnic tables to enjoy our bag lunches. “You were just like a kid down there!”

Jessie smiled. “I had a brain tumour scare last year,” she told me matter-of-factly. “They removed the mass, and I vowed if I got out of that situation alive, I would never say no to life again.”

Wow. That stopped me in my tracks. If I knew I only had one year to live, what would I start saying “yes” to?

After lunch, I caught up with the kids, flicked on my flashlight and shouted, “Lead the way!” to my son.

Off we went, exploring life.

YES #41 -Yes I will sign up to chaperone my son’s grade five trip to Medieval Times.

YES #42 -Yes I will agree to eat my lunch with my hands even though the idea pretty much grosses me out.

YES #43 – Yes I will take the time to chat with other parents on the long bus ride despite the fact that I’m wiped out and would rather be listening to my itunes.