Summer of Yes

Sometime around May, I started feeling fairly stagnant.  This happens to me every once and a while.  And when it does, I seem to go in 12 directions at once.  I want to buy a house one day.  A new car the next.  Then I'm going back to school.  Or planning trips around the world.  But everything I think of seems like a rash decision to make.  I can't decide which direction to go in.  So I end up doing nothing besides a lot of late night online shopping.  (Mom always knows when I fall into one of these funks because boxes and packages magically appear at our doorstep.  Wyatt loves this.  My bank account; not so much.)  So, when it happened again this year (with the help of my therapist) I came up with a different plan.

I like to call it the "Summer of Yes".  The premise was to say Yes to every opportunity that came our way.  Whether it sounded silly, or boring, or uncomfortable, or something I wouldn't normally do.  Just say Yes.  To all the little things and see what fun, engaging, new and exciting places Wyatt and I could find ourselves in.  Obviously, I tried not to say Yes to things that would get me arrested or give me the clap but I tried to get right to the edge.  Here are some of the things we said Yes to:

A walk around Shu Swamp with some older members of my congregation.  Specifically a group called the Winter Weezers.  We were the youngest by decades. When they got lost, Wyatt lead them to safety.  There are only like two trails.  It was hysterical.

Yes, it was a hot pink limo!

I went on a singles wine tour with Jen and 2 other girls.  There was one guy amongst about 35 girls. We had a blast.

I said Yes to finally getting my teeth fixed.  This was HUGE for me.  I have been wanted to get them fixed since college but could never find the time or justify the money.  Finally, I decided that if I had actually said yes when I first wanted to it would have been done already and not still lingering stubbornly on my to-do-list.  So I shopped around for orthodontists.  And pitted them against one another.  And negotiated the shit out of them.  And finally found something slightly above reasonable.  Progress.

I said yes to an ex-boyfriend that I probably shouldn't have BUT I did get to go to my first country concert that was absolutely amazing.  My therapist would want me to point out that the entire experience taught me some things about myself.  There is no regret, just learning for next time. So it guess its still a positive.

Before

After

I finally refinished a dresser that has been down in my basement for three years.  It came out really nice.  Everyone in the family is fighting for it already.  I actually impressed myself on this one.

I took Wyatt and I to California on a whim.  It was an amazing trip and I am so glad we did it.

I have been carving out extra time in my life for my friends. This has meant a random night out with Brianne and Jessica during a monsoon (because when's a better time to drive to a bar!)  Going to Newsies on Broadway with Rebecca then saying Yes to too much wine afterwards meaning mid-week city sleepover.  Agreeing to elope with some cute guy - then thinking better of it in the morning.  (Pretty sure that was the right choice. About 50/50.) Getting 10:30pm calls to go out, changing out of my PJ's and staying out until 3am.  Meeting Lizzy at Walls way too much.  Actually pulling an all-nighter in Long Beach and not getting home until 1pm the next day (it took me a week to recover from that!) And plenty of times celebrating Mike and Joanna's new house. (You got cable!  Sure, I'll bring beer!)  It has resulted in a lot of hungover mornings and babysitting nights for my mom but its been a shit load of fun.

I signed up for yoga at the library.  10 classes for $25.  Seriously people, what's to think about?  It was my first time doing group exercise.  I was nervous.  Then I noticed the median age is about 63.  During stretching, I try not to show off.

I bought a groupon for horseback riding lessons.  Haven't cashed in on that one yet but I am very much looking forward to going this fall.

And I think the biggest one:  Nana asked if Wyatt and I would like to move into her house.  There was a resounding YES!!  Wyatt and I will be less then 5 miles from my parents and Nana and Grandpa will stay in my old room when they visit from Florida.  Its bittersweet because we won't see them as much.  But Wyatt and I are so excited (and ready) for our own place.  We just started doing some renovations. I don't want to give much away because I want Nana and Grandpa to be surprised when they come home for Christmas but there will be plenty of before/after pictures when we're done.  When I asked Wyatt today what he wanted to do after school he said, "Mom, let's go work on our house."

Overall, I think my experiment has worked out pretty well.  I am planning on extending my Summer of Yes into a Lifetime of Yes.  I think what the whole thing taught me was I tend to nix an idea before I have really thought it through.  Everyone does.  I can't do that because I have work, or its too late, or I'm too tired.  Yes, but.... throw it out.  Its garbage.  Say Yes, people.  Trust me.  Its been a fucking great summer.