Yes, Thank You

I recently heard Pete Holmes talk about a simple way of responding to whatever life puts in front of you: “Yes, thank you.”

I liked it immediately, although not because I believe we should be thankful for everything that happens to us. Some things are painful. Some are unfair. Some we would change in a second if we could.

But there is something powerful about the “Yes”. Yes, this is happening. The flight was cancelled. The plan didn’t work as expected. Someone disappointed me. I made a mistake. Something I was hoping for didn’t happen.  Very often my first reaction is to argue with reality. This shouldn’t have happened. Why now? This wasn’t supposed to go this way. As if reality might reconsider.

Of course, when something can be changed, we should try to change it. Acceptance doesn’t mean passivity. But once something has happened, fighting against the fact that it happened doesn’t change anything. It only adds another layer of frustration to whatever we’re already dealing with.

That’s what I like about “Yes, thank you.” The yes says: I accept that this is what life has put in front of me.  And perhaps the thank you doesn’t mean: I’m grateful this happened. Maybe it simply means: I’ll take it from here.

There is something liberating about stopping the negotiation with reality. About using our energy not to wish for a different moment, but to decide what to do with the one we actually have. I don’t know if I can always live this way. But I like the idea of trying.

Whatever today brings: Yes, thank you. Now, what can I do with it?