Jolie Guillebeau

early mornings filled with sunshine
pastries
long walks in the rain
hope
big green salads
my juicer
coffee
smiles from strangers
honesty
long bike rides for no reason
connection
paying attention
cute new skirts
afternoons in the hammock
paying the bus fare for everyone getting on behind me (try it! It’s awesome.)
a clean house
my whole heart
the future (looking forward)
Rituals
stories
love
lip gloss
leaving the house without makeup
acceptance
long phone calls with faraway friends
self-care
well shaped eyebrows
passion
laundry
bright toenails
oatmeal with peanut butter
dried cherries for dinner
myself
books
breaking the rules
paint
learning
yarn
neighborhood potlucks
life. Lovely, lovely life.

Maybe I’m behind here, but I’m just learning this word.

In my education classes in college, I remember learning that children begin saying no as they discover their own will and learn to differentiate themselves from their parents. We learn that we’re separate. That we can make our own choices. We learn limits.

But with “no” we learn that we’re separate. Apart. We learn to limit ourselves.

We spend years hearing and saying no. No cookies before dinner, no talking with your mouth full,  no staying out past midnight, no nose ring on the job interview, no wearing white after Labor Day, no… no… no…

For me, all those “No”s started building up. I was saying no to myself. No, you can’t really be an artist. No, you can’t follow your own dream. No, you don’t really matter. No, you’re not making a difference.

No more No.

I’m embracing Yes.

Yes, you’re enough. Yes, it’s okay to ask for help. Yes, you can create your own boundaries.Yes, you’re a grownup, you can eat cupcakes before dinner. Yes, you matter. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes embraces the whole. Yes acknowledges power and choice. Yes is scary, because you’re giving something of yourself.

But is it worth it?

Yes. A thousand times, yes.