Just Say Yes

Just Say Yes

Everyone keeps asking how I’m doing. My response is pretty much always “I’m okay,” because there aren’t really words to accurately say how I’m doing. I get up. I feed my dogs. I feed myself. I go do stuff. Some days I set aside for productive days. Those are pretty much just for tackling the poop list. They are mentally and physically exhausting… a blog post for another day.

In between my productive days, I try to do some fun stuff. My brain isn’t exactly wired for fun at the moment, but I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of people flocking around to support me. Some of them are my dear friends who have great ideas like making smores (I’m going to be a diabetic when I’m done with all of this). Others are helping by just asking if I want to go do something. Right now, I’ve made it a rule for myself to say yes to every invitation I can feasibly attend.

My dad always told me that people get tired of inviting friends to do stuff if the friend always says no. If you say no too much, you won’t get invited anywhere. I don’t want to be that “no” person right now, because in a few months the invitations will slow down and I don’t want to be totally alone.

So that’s how I ended up in a country rock bar at a strip mall, taking pictures in a giant wall of bubbles and drinking too much.

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It’s how I saw some really nice fireworks this year in a lovely setting. Tim was never a huge fan of the 4th of July or fireworks, so thankfully it was a good “first holiday” that wasn’t too loaded with memories. I did take a ridiculously patriotic koozie with me that he bought as a joke at HEB one summer for tubing with friends. I thought about him as I drank my cider and looked over the water.

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I even went to see Jurassic World with some horse friends, and got caught up with what’s going on with everyone at my old barn. Plus you can’t be too sad when you’re gasping at dinosaurs eating people in every other scene.

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Perhaps my favorite act of saying “yes” this holiday weekend was when my trainer texted me if I wanted a lesson. Originally I had planned to lay low for a while until I get my feet back underneath me. Of course I would ride, but lessons and extras were going to need to be paused. However I probably only paused for about ten seconds before I texted her back that I would love to lesson.

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So we did, and my nerd horse brought his A game. Gymnastics have never been a super strong point for us, but he was awesome. I ended the lesson with a smile.

I have to force myself a bit right now, but I really am doing okay. I guess that isn’t as much of a lie to people as I thought.

34 thoughts on “Just Say Yes

  1. If you hadn’t mentioned that gymnastics were not a strong suit for you two, I would never have known based on that video. You guys look great. Glad you are saying yes to stuff, I have a feeling that it’s A LOT harder than it sounds.

    1. He was so, so good this weekend. Last time we had a gymnastic lesson, I had to growl him through it a couple times. I think he learned that “forward” is always the answer. We only got a little sticky one time, and it wasn’t nearly as bad as it has been in the past.

  2. Be careful with your automatic yes. I might invite you to Virginia. 😉 Glad to see you’re getting out some and riding. Thinking of you.

  3. You and Simon look awesome through that grid! I wish I could find that sort of flow when I practice.

  4. I just found your blog again. I’m sorry for your loss. I admire your courage and strength.

    You and Simon look like total professionals through that grid. Cool, calm and easy confidence – what a relationship you two share!

  5. =) What a great approach! I’m going to try to say “yes” more too now. And that grid was awesome – you look rock steady and Simon’s ears are just so delightful.

  6. Soon I am going to make the trek down and we can eat doughnuts at Gourdoughs and go watch the bats. Plus I have only been to Austin once… we can be tourists together.

  7. Even though you need some time to decharge and process and be sad, it’s also a good idea to keep yourself busy and surrounded by people that love you. Helps you keep from getting too stuck and sad. (Like the Joker says, ‘Madness, as you know, is a lot like gravity, all it takes is a little push.’ — if you don’t have all of those people holding you up, it’s so easy to fall down into the pit and get consumed by it).

    You and Simon look absolutely lovely.

  8. Glad you’re getting out and about! The staying “fake it until you make it” is popular for a reason ❤️

  9. what a great philosophy – i can see how just saying yes can actually be super liberating (within reason lol). and i’m super glad you said ‘yes’ to that lesson bc you look fabulous!!

  10. This is such great advice. It’s so much easier to say no. You can miss out on some pretty great stuff by saying no all the time though.

  11. Fantastic grid! And the t-rex making a bed pic is hilarious.

    Any time you want to come pet paddy or go for a trail ride, just let me know. 🙂

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