I have a little trouble with the word “no.” I just don’t say it very well. If someone asks me for a favor, asks me to volunteer for something, asks to borrow something… I say, “sure, no problem” even if I’m thinking “I’d really rather not.”
I’ve been working in my art journal the past couple of days on a “Just Say No” project and I ran across this old Nancy Reagan picture on Wikipedia…
Aren’t they all so cute? I’m sure Nancy said No to drugs back in the day, but do you think she said No to all the demands on her time and energy? I doubt it. We women are notorious for spreading ourselves thin.
My layout isn’t only about spreading myself thin, though, it’s also about saying No to the things I allow to impede my progress in the world – fear, doubt, self-criticism. Sometimes I think I’ve almost grown comfortable with those impediments. It’s easier to stay stuck in fear and self-doubt than to realize my full potential, but, I’m working on it.
Today is the Vernal Equinox – it’s the one day of the year when the amount of daylight will exactly equal the amount of dark. Maybe it’s a day to consider balancing our personal daylight and dark. Just for today, maybe I will try to love myself just as much as I criticize myself.
And tomorrow (and each day afterwards), maybe I will try to love myself just a little more.
Namaste,
Kelley
