Saying "Yes!"

Once upon a time I lived in San Francisco and was a member of an improv comedy troupe where I learned the magic of saying "Yes!" On the stage, saying "yes" in a scene means that you agree to support the creative idea of your fellow actor which takes you into unknown territory and requires you to trust that other person to make the scene work.  What happens when you say yes is you learn to surrender and to let go and creativity begins to bloom.

In my days since improv acting, I have continued to explore the magic of saying "yes!" in the real world and watched that magic carry me to unexpected places and experiences. Recently a friend of mine presented me with an opportunity to go to South Dakota to compete with her in a week-long sail boat race- the Hobie North American Championships to be precise.  My sailing experience was limited to a handfull of sail-trips around the Monterey Bay on large boats where I mostly ate cheese and drank wine. Turns out catamaran sailing is way next level: 1-There is no wine involved and 2- You are strapped into a harness and using your bodyweight to keep the boat upright as it zooms over water. While my experience was next to none, my confidence was high that I could learn what I needed to know and be equipped to compete and besides, what's the worst that could happen- so I said "yes!"

What came next was the delightful aftertaste of the sweetness of "yes."  I had an opportunity to shine in a whole new way. I got to met people from all over North America and share in a unique experience with them. I made new friends, new connections, and deepened connections I already had. I even had the unexpected surprise of a local reporter writing a story in the town newspapre about our team with a full page picture!

Now I'm not gonna lie: I loved the attention.  It felt so good to be seen and recognized and it reminded me of the endless possibility the universe holds. There is so much out there waiting to be created. When you can ditch your expectations, allow yourself to be vulnerable and let the people around you share in the creative unfolding of plans and actions, magic happens!  The second you get out out of your comfort zone you start to build deeper relationships through the authentic shared experience.  If you have an interesting opportunity you are considering, even if you are unqualified or might fail, try saying "yes!" and see where it leads you!