Just say "yes"

I’m sitting at a counter overlooking the parking lot in a strip mall with mediocre at best coffee in a Styrofoam cup having just eaten the best bagel breakfast sandwich of my life (and I like to consider myself an expert on bagel sandwiches).  I tried to go to Cracker Barrel or Waffle House, but 11am on a Sunday in Mt. Juliet, TN is the right time for everyone else too, and a good bagel sandwich was exactly what I wanted.  I just dropped one of my oldest friends off at the airport after a night of celebrating love.  It’s not the first wedding of strangers I’ve attended as my friend’s “plus one”.  I just tend to say “yes”.

It was a long time ago that I was taught by a Jesuit brother that we are the Universe’s ability to reflect upon itself.  I must have decided in that moment that I’d better show the universe the best of itself then. And while life certainly brings with it a necessary amount of pain and suffering (how else would we recognize the joy?), have been on an infinite path of joy ever since.

​Part of that infinite path of joy involves the word “yes”.  I try to say that word as often as possible (within reason, of course).  I mean, I don’t recommend this practice for teenagers as teenagers don’t necessarily know what “within reason” means, but “yes” for adults most often leads to the Universe’s best.  Or, as my friend David says, at the very least it leads to adventure.

It’s this little word that has led so many adventures, both large and small.  And those adventures have led to so many moments for the Universe to reflect fondly upon itself.  The natural beauty, the best of humanity, the laughter, the awe, the joy.  All these things and more contained in that simple little word: “yes”.

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