“Whenever anybody comes to me with a way that I can give something back, it would be ungrateful at this point in my life to not say yes.” 

~ Paul Stanley

I’m starting to realize that every “yes” means saying “no” to something else. So, it stands to reason that when I say “no” to something, I’m actually saying “yes” to something else — right?

I grew up in a House of No. No television, no swearing, no extravagant expenses, no spoiling (even though I was an only child). I never really resented these “no’s” (except the television one), it was just the way things were.

As a parent today, I’m realizing that maybe the “no’s” my parents set out were actually “yeses” to other things: free time to create and imagine, read and write; a safe upbringing; a stable financial environment where all my needs were met (even if all my wants weren’t).

Yes, I was probably sheltered a lot more than some other kids I knew. But I didn’t end up in jail, pregnant at 16 or a college drop-out either. So I guess that’s saying something.

YES #53 – Yes I will choose to see the “no’s” in my life as “yeses” to something else.

YES #54 – Yes I will choose to see my 13-year-old daughter’s angry outbursts for what they are: hormonal side effects and not a direct attack on me or my personality.

YES #55 – Yes I will begin planning a rock climbing date for me and my daughter to carve out some “Mom and Me” time.