Got Choy?

(haha. Not exactly, but we’re feeling the same thrill here as to what this article is about…)

So I ran into a thought-provoking article on the web the other day. It talks about saying “yes” in our everyday lives. Why is it that we get so caught up in instinctively saying “no” or “I don’t know” or “maybe” these days? Is there always an innate fear to commit oneself into something we’re unsure of? I like how this article challenges us to go off on a limb every once in a while and see how it feels… Will I actually do it? Hmm… probably not.

Here are 5 reasons to say “yes”:

1. You’ll learn something. Even if the idea doesn’t fly, you’ll learning something valuable.
2. You’ll get a rush of adrenaline when you jump in…not with a single toe, but with your whole dang foot.
3. You’ll realize the value of an idea.
4. You’ll get a chance to connect with people.
5. You’ll be inspired.

Say YES. I can’t guarantee it’ll work, but it’ll be one heck of a worthwhile ride.

Try it out… say yes out of impulse…. and try it without hesitation. (Of course, use your own discretion when saying “yes” at the workplace…)

“Can you deliver this product by tomorrow?”

“Yes”

… *Doh!*… I’ve done that one before.

My dad’s Rutger’s Alumni magazine came in the mail the other day, and I guess it was the year-end edition. In it were some quotes from the commencement speeches of various scholars and famous people. Naturally, I read the famous peoples’ speeches only when I perused through the mag. Sure they were thoughtful and interesting to some extent, but really, who listens to serious graduation speeches really.

Then dad came across a speech which I had skipped. It was an excerpt of a Dr. Jay Albanese’s graduation speech that he gave at Rutgers School Of Criminal Justice congratulating the accomplishment of achieving a masters degree. He gives credit to all you hard workers out there, and emphasizes that nothing comes easy.  It’s really short so give it a read.  If you have any sense of humor, then you’ll atleast smile.

“For those of you who think you are too small or insignificant to be effective, have you ever been in the dark with a mosquito?

Only 19 percent of American adults possess a bachelors degree. Less than 7 percent of American adults possess a masters degree. Be proud of your success. People can be divided into three groups: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Some people are born on third base, and think they hit a triple, but you and I know better. It is a pleasure to recognize you, you who have distinguished yourselves, and you who make things happen in your lives. You are people who know yourselves, and you don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are indeed wonderful.”

Do you ever have one of those weekends, where nothing gets accomplished… where none of the tasks which you intended on doing ever got done… where all the plans you actually tried to make, didn’t really work out… yet, it still felt like a perfect weekend? I just had one of those weekends… and I can’t begin to describe how nice it was. Crazy, huh?

SIDE-STORY: Caltrain operators are ho-bags. (Can I call them that? I don’t care, it’s my website.) Well, they are…

[The setting: 10:04pm - Guy and girl jump off the late bus and run to the station in an attempt to catch a 10 o'clock train about 100 feet away. When they get to the gate, it was apparent that the train had just left as a thirty-something wench lady removes the "10:00pm" sign]

Unnamed Stud: “How long ago did the train leave?”

Ho-bag: [looks at watch briefly] “Well it’s ten oh four and forty-five seconds” [without giving anyone a chance to respond, ho-bag prances off with chest held high... literally]

[girl flips off the train operator as she's not looking ]

[close curtain]