Yes/No/Maybe
Who would have thought a simple "yes" could lead to an almost two-year-old writing collaboration?
It was exactly two years ago that I first heard about National Novel Writing Month. The premise seemed crazy: write 50,000 words during the month of November. No plot, no problem! That was the motto and I took it to heart. With no plot and no plan I churned out a fairly bad 50,000 word novella. The novella is sitting on my hard drive, just waiting for some tender loving care, but the insanity of that month did a whole lot more than just produce mediocre writing: it gave me confidence in my writing abilities. Without NaNoWriMo, I never would have had the confidence to say "yes" to starting an online magazine.
Of course, I couldn't have done it without all the other talented women who heard about my idea and had the courage to say "yes" with me.
While NaNoWriMo taught me the power of "yes," Mosaic Minds has taught me the power of "no." I'm a people pleaser and nurturer by nature, so I find it very difficult to tell people no. When putting together a writing project that attracts people of all skill levels, "no" is sometimes necessary. I was born with too much empathy, I think. I've always hated to hurt anyone's feelings, but sometimes it must be done. It is still difficult for me to reject a piece of writing or tell someone that their failure to meet deadlines has reached an unacceptable level, but I'm learning. It has slowly dawned on me that by saying "no" I'm setting boundaries and telling people how to interact with me. I learned a long time ago that students will only give as much as you expect them to give. I'm learning that the same holds true with most adults as well.
I hope you've found the proper balance of "yes" and "no" in your life. Say "yes" to the things that make you happy and healthy. Give yourself permission to go out on a limb and do something that isn't in your comfort zone. Then give yourself permission to tell someone "no." If someone asks you for a favor and you really don't have the time or energy to do it, don't feel guilty when you take a pass. No one can be all things to all people. A proper balance of yes and no will help you be all the things that you can be for yourself and your family.