Anne Lamott, in her book Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, said:
"I live by the truth that NO is a complete sentence. I rest as a spiritual act."
What an amazing concept! When I first read that, I was stunned. How difficult it has always been for me to say NO to any request for my time, money, support, service. And I generally just say YES immediately without even taking a breath and some time to consider WHAT is being asked of me. And then I am stuck!! I am left with hitting myself on the head as I sit and stew and fret and regret whatever it was I just said I would do. I look at my calendar, sigh, moan, shake, and hit myself on the head again as I see myself filling in all of the days with activities that not only do I not have time for, but that I don't even want to do in the first place!
So Anne Lamott really "spoke" to me with her words. Since I read them, back in 2005, I have actually put the word NO into my vocabulary.
errrr no
nnnoo
um no?
no
no
NO
NO (period)!
