Hello, my friends! I wanted to share a post that I originally published on Instagram. You can check that out and take a look at my feed here! As you can probably guess from the title, it’s about saying yes and what that looks like for me. If you already saw it while scrolling through the app, you won’t waste your time reading it again because I expanded on my thoughts below. I can assure you it’s a good one!
Not Apologizing
I promised myself when I made social media accounts to showcase my photography that I wouldn’t share a plethora of puppy pictures. In the past, people have told me that I post too much about my dogs. But of course, I just can’t help myself.
Dogs have become a huge part of my life since I started raising puppies to become service dogs. I’m not going to pretend that they aren’t. And I’m certainly not going to apologize for sharing images and my journey with some of the most important things in my life. To me, dogs do so much more than fill my heart with joy. They have improved my quality of life, given me a reason to wake up every morning with a smile on my face, and challenged me in ways I never thought were possible.
Saying Yes Without Hesitation
I’m sharing a photo of Fanta back when she was in training to become a guide dog. When I took this photo, I had no idea that she would end up being mine forever… as my pet and my best friend. She wasn’t the right fit for service work, and if I’m being honest, it was disappointing and hard to process at first, especially after putting so much work into her training. It was almost a year ago when I was asked if I wanted her back. I was working full-time and wanting to continue to raise puppies, be able to work on my own independent projects, start this side gig, maintain my almost non-existent social life, and accomplish many other things on my list of goals that’s more than a mile long. “There’s no way I could handle the responsibilities that come along with being a pet parent,” I thought. I thought that I wouldn’t be able to give her the life she deserves. But imagining my life without her felt wrong. So wrong. I couldn’t ever turn down that opportunity, so I said yes. I said yes without any hesitation.
Oftentimes, I look back at that little moment and tell myself that I need to take chances and say yes more. The last thing I want to do is become a “Yes” Person or be known as one. However, I’ve come to realize there’s nothing wrong with saying yes more often. Saying yes means making the most of every opportunity that life offers you. It means breaking through your comfort zone, overcoming your fears, and accepting failure, criticism and embarrassment with positivity and pride. I know that I need to start saying yes without hesitation when no feels more convenient. I know that I need to say yes without hesitation to new challenges and changes in life… to things that help me learn more about myself… to things that may lead to something bigger in the future but not resenting my decision if they don’t.
The Best Thing in Life
Now, when I look at Fanta, I see one of the best things in my life that I ever said yes to. She has taught me so much in our short two years together. That’s why I love sharing her with the world. I do know that I’m never going to say yes to someone if they ask me to tone down the puppy pictures. I shouldn’t have to.
If this post has resonated with you in any way, I’d love to hear from you. What is the most life-enhancing thing you’ve ever said yes to?
