What’s up, my Witches?! (And woo-woo folks who identify however you identify, lol) if you couldn’t tell, it’s Aaron here. 

Lately, I’ve been working harder to say “no” in a professional setting. It’s certainly not always easy, but after a moment or two of discomfort, it becomes SO worth it.

I thought to myself, if I keep saying “yes” to things I don’t really want to do (most specifically at work) simply out of obligation or the ever present, ever evil “people pleasing” tendency that I have, then why not say “yes” to things that I DO want to do. 

Recently, Christian and I went to a Nine Inch Nails concert and sat out on the lawn. They have been his favorite band since he was a kid and they put on an incredible show. We ate a delicious dinner beforehand at a restaurant we’d never been to before, had some fun cocktails, and I found myself jumping up and down, singing along at the top of my lungs to a song. This was on a week night and we didn’t get home and to sleep until 1am (on a school night!). 

I recently painted my nails (which I can’t remember if I have already talked about or not but it really was liberating). I was always told “no” and pushed that urge away, but it was so relaxing and therapeutic, and I am going to say “yes” to that – to myself – more often.

This past weekend, Christian and I went with a couple of our friends to a gala (Kentucky Derby themed) at a country club; it was a fund-raising event for the hospital in my friend’s hometown two hours from here. We dressed up in suits (and I got a cute, yellow hat that felt very out of my comfort zone but everyone kept complimenting) and we ate too much, danced too much, and drank too much. We didn’t have a dog sitter, so we had to take a quick nap and sober up in enough time to drive home before the sun rose to feed our babies breakfast and let them outside. As such, we got 2 hours of sleep and then went to a cookout for Mother’s Day, beyond exhausted.

In summation, I have been doing things that I either typically wouldn’t do or would say “no” to so that I would get enough rest or feel better for work the next morning, etc. and it’s been AMAZING. 

I have a couple of concerts coming up again (Thank goodness that live music is back!) on school nights, and I’m going to jump up and down and dance and sing at the top of my lungs. I’m not going to get enough sleep and I’m going to be exhausted, irritable, and likely hung over at work the next day. BUT if you don’t say “Yes” to the fun things, to occasionally being irresponsible and impulsive, to yourself, then you’re just going through the motions and not setting yourself free. 

What is something you’ve been wanting to do? What is that “yes” that you keep putting off? Stop doing it because life is too short and you are worth it. 

Happy dancing, singing, “yes”-ing. 

With love,
-Aaron