Let’s say yes to all of it. Say yes to everything for as long as we can. Let’s drop dead some day saying yes. That’ll be a life.
– Paul Child in Julia, Season 1, Episode 8
The TV version of Paul Childs says this in the context of two opportunities that came up. They can find a way to say yes to both.
It can also be understood as a more radical yes to life, which is maybe what he is suggesting in the next sentence.
YES TO OPPORTUNITIES
It can be a yes to opportunities and experiences that could be fun and rewarding.
If I can’t find a good reason to say no, why not do it?
YES TO WHAT’S CHALLENGING
It can be a yes to whatever is here, to whatever comes. A yes to it as a visitor. As life wanting to experience this too.
It’s already here, so why not say yes to it?
It’s a yes to joy, grief, excitement, anxiety, contractions, and much more.
It’s a yes to confusion and reactions to hurt. It’s a yes to noticing what it is.
It’s a yes to impulses that come whether they are acted on or not. Sometimes, a yes is a yes to changing a situation.
THE YES BUILT INTO LIFE AND US
It can be noticing the yes that’s already here, the yes that’s built into life and what we are.
Something more fundamental than my preferences and wishes is already saying yes to it.
How is it to notice that yes?
THREE YESES
So here are three kinds of yeses.
The yes to opportunities, if there is no obvious reason to say no.
The yes to what’s here as it is, which sometimes includes actions to change the situation.
The yes that’s built into life and us to what’s already here.
INITIAL NOTES
The TV version of Paul Childs says this in the context of two opportunities that came up for them. They can find a way to say yes to both.
It can also be understood as a more radical yes to life, which is maybe what he is suggesting in the next sentence.
It can be a yes to opportunities and experiences that could be fun and rewarding.
It can be a yes to whatever is here, to whatever comes. A yes to it as a visitor. As life wanting to experience this too.
It can be a yes to responding to it in a wise and kind way, which sometimes includes changing it.
It can be a yes to our experiences, as they are. A yes to joy, sadness, grief, excitement, fear, reactivity, and whatever else.
It can be a yes to relating to this in a more intentional way, with some skill and kindness.
It can be noticing the yes that’s already here. A yes from life, from our nature.
Notice there is already a yes to it, too what’s here whatever it is
It’s built into us and life
SECOND DRAFT
The TV version of Paul Childs says this in the context of two opportunities that came up. They can find a way to say yes to both.
It can also be understood as a more radical yes to life, which is maybe what he is suggesting in the next sentence.
TWO YESES
It can be a yes to opportunities and experiences that could be fun and rewarding.
It can be a yes to whatever is here, to whatever comes. A yes to it as a visitor. As life wanting to experience this too.
YES TO WHAT’S NOT ALWAYS SO EASY
It can be a yes to responding to it in a wise and kind way, which sometimes includes changing it.
It can be a yes to our experiences, as they are. A yes to joy, sadness, grief, excitement, fear, reactivity, and whatever else.
It can be a yes to relating to this in a more intentional way, with some skill and kindness.
A MORE ESSENTIAL YES
It can be noticing the yes that’s already here. A yes from life, from our nature.
Notice there is already a yes to it, too what’s here whatever it is
It’s built into us and life
THIRD (more logical, less flow)
The TV version of Paul Childs says this in the context of two opportunities that came up. They can find a way to say yes to both.
It can also be understood as a more radical yes to life, which is maybe what he is suggesting in the next sentence.
YES TO OPPORTUNITIES
It can be a yes to opportunities and experiences that could be fun and rewarding.
If it comes our way, and there is no good reason to say no, why not say yes?
Why not even say yes to the fear that may come up and fearful thoughts?
YES TO WHAT’S NOT ALWAYS SO EASY
It can be a yes to whatever is here, to whatever comes. A yes to it as a visitor. As life wanting to experience this too.
It can be a yes to responding to it in a wise and kind way, which sometimes includes changing it.
It can be a yes to our experiences, as they are. A yes to joy, sadness, grief, excitement, fear, reactivity, and whatever else.
It can be a yes to relating to this in a more intentional way, with some skill and kindness.
A MORE ESSENTIAL YES
It can be noticing the yes that’s already here. A yes from life, from our nature.
Notice there is already a yes to it, too what’s here whatever it is
It’s built into us and life
THREE YESES
It can be a yes to opportunities and experiences that could be fun and rewarding.
It can be a yes to whatever is here, to whatever comes. A yes to it as a visitor. As life wanting to experience this too.
It can be noticing the yes that’s already here to what’s here, the yes that’s built into life and what we are.