©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved
My grandmother planted a seed pertaining to the powerfulness of the words "yes" and "no" in me when I was eighteen years old; the same age my youngest child is right now--that was so long ago. At the time, none of what she said made sense to me; but looking back the one thing that comes to mind is, 'she knew how to use those words powerfully'. Her "yes" and "no" were like a signed contract--never used lightly. Both showed me her character, because it takes integrity to say 'yes' or 'no' and mean it. If my memory serves me right, on that day I wanted to participate in yet another activity--I was already committed to softball, basketball, volleyball, choir, youth ministry, and singing in a local band. I asked her for money for my new endeavor and she uttered--'no'. Adeline P. Gregg took me aside and said: "You can't say 'yes' to everything without saying 'no' to all the things that really matter; good distractions will keep you away from your real purpose." Of course at eighteen I didn't know what she was talking about, and she said it with her Gullah language dialect, which further confused me--I wanted the money for my new adventure; how could something good be a bad distraction? She didn't beat me up with her words, she knew I didn't understand--she planted the seed and moved on. So here I am, thirty-three years later and I fully understand what she was saying then: "The many times I have said 'yes' to a good opportunity for all the wrong reasons is when I was also saying 'no' to all the things I should have been doing." Don't let a good distraction take you away from what you should be doing. It's a good day to start using the power of your 'yes' and 'no' without passively giving into things you know you shouldn't be doing. This is Tuesday talk.
©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved
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Blogger Bio:Theda Okona is a former storyteller and co-host for an internet radio broadcast. She lives to be inspired. Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, Writer, Speaker, Vocalist and Author of Clouds of Grace--she has a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English. Archives
July 2018
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