There is a “River of YES” **
of dreams and possibilities
and imaginings and experiences
of joy and love and tender messes
that can keep us laughterful about
the futility of too many well-made
and purpose-filled plans and projects
in a world where magic and mystery
provide a thousand delightful
and insightful attractions and distractions
if we will but take a chance
or take on an impossible challenge
and hang on for the ride
as the flow of life carries us along
knowing we belong
to the All of it
and there are the floodtides of NO
that rush in to warn us
to not dream too big or too often
to not feel too much or too hopeful
to keep a fixed gaze on objectives
and voice lots of savvy objections
and shadowy projections
to not cross the invisible line
that might tempt us to turn
toward a more dare I say
divinely uplifting
way of seeing and being.
Our life. Our choice.
**Mark Nepo, Reduced to Joy, p.58, poem: “The Industry of No”
From the heart, mind, and pen of Minx
Minx what a deep poem. “Yes” is such a powerful word, and like a river, it can open our minds to so much more, if we dare to dream and travel that river. The “Nos” that pop up may be rocks along the way. If we respect the “Nos” as we flow around them- all will be well on our Yes Journey.
Thanks Kat. To be on a “YES Journey” is perhaps one of the most powerful things we can do in VUCA / troubling times.
Thank you Dennis Pitocco for sharing. This poem brings a smile to my heart. I remember reading the poet Mark Nepo‘s words right after I had taken in too large dose of the daily news. The phrase a River of YES is such an antidote to all that negativity and a reminder of what a beautiful yes can awakening us.