She spelled it out. P.R.I.O.R.I.T.I.E.S
My mom had a stroke last September. Before that, she took great pride in having well-manicured nails, and always enjoyed spending time with her manicurist (who is a super fun lady!). One day when she was in rehab, she asked me to bring over a nail file and clean up her nails.
“Mom, why don’t I get Amy to come over and give you a mani.” thinking it would make her feel good.
“Anne, I’ll spell it out just like I did for your father.” She held up both hands and put one finger up for each letter. “P R I O R I T I E S. I have other much more important things to deal with right now.”
This was one of many courageous actions my mom has made in the past months, and such a great lesson to us. How often to we get caught up in all the things we’ve always done, when, in light of the current circumstances are taking time and energy that should be spent on more important things.
And now is when I apologize for not dropping your mid-week energizer for the last few weeks. I had to prioritize. I launched my new keynote (met with a standing ovation…which was REALLY exciting!) had 3 straight weeks of travel and am planning to move in July and have been on a house hunting mission (successful!). I’ve had a few pressing issues to take care of, and something had to give.
(Sorry it was you! I promise to make it up to you.)
So many people are complaining about feeling overwhelmed, burned out, exhausted, frazzled these days, with good reason! The last 2 years has been exhausting, and all the change has many people waving the white flag.
This is the perfect time to look at your own circumstances and ask yourself, what are the big priorities, and what’s NOT! What can I say no to?
Because as my coach recently said, “When you say NO to something, you’re saying YES to something else.”
When you say “no” to volunteering to head up the school dance committee, you’re saying “yes” to dinner with the kids.
When you say “no” to going out to dinner, you’re saying “yes” to more money in the “buy a house” savings account.
When you say “no” to hamburger and fries for lunch, you’re saying “yes” to fitting into your “skinny jeans” and dropping the pandemic 19! (I’m speaking for a friend here. Ok, I’m not. I’m speaking for myself!)
When I said “no” to writing the e-mail blasts over the past couple of weeks, I said “yes” to keynote rehearsal and a few extra hours of sleep so I could knock it out of the park for my clients!
So even though saying “no” is tough, it allows you to say “YES” to the really important stuff.
Give it a shot, and reply and let me know what you’re saying YES to!!
