Daily writing prompt

How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

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“How often do you “say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?”

I say “no” daily, in more than one way…

By making my own coffee, I’m saying “no” to pricier coffee bar coffees. I have been diligent with making dinner, usually 6 nights a week, saying “no” to take-out and restaurant dinners. I say “no” to events that mean I am over-extending myself. I say no to fancy clothes and gourmet foods (usually!)

I work hard on saving money in some areas of my life, so that I can save more in other areas and do the things that I love. The “no’s” help me say “yes” to other things. It’s important to know what my goals are though, to be able to do that. Clothes aren’t important to me, and I have a uniform (scrubs) for work. I’d rather cook dinner most days of the week, pack my lunch every day, and pass on coffees out so that I can save more money or splurge every now and then for a trip.

For instance, this past weekend I went to NYC for the day and had fun exploring the city, buying a book and some stationery, and getting some tasty treats. I spent the afternoon at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and walked around Fifth Avenue. The day after that, I went to an anime convention with my son, and found some really cool stickers that I am absolutely in love with. (I am a sucker for stickers!)

I heart New York…

That last exhibit was at MOMA and I walked into that room and couldn’t help but laugh. It just made me smile.

So now, I’m back to not spending and hunkering down for lack of a better word… I’m going to work and spending my evenings reading, or writing, or going for walks. This weekend I’ll be doing homework, seeing my kids, and going to a local concert with my boyfriend. I balance doing some fun stuff with being (mostly) kinda boring. So it’s a trade-off. I said no to traveling over my vacation in January so I could focus on saving more and just relaxing. I say no to screens after 9 so that I can sleep better overall.

I try not to schedule things in the evenings, at least not more than once a week since I have a Monday evening commitment and Friday nights my boyfriend usually takes us out to eat.

So the answer to the question, “how often do I say no to things that interfere with my goals” is daily. I say no daily. That’s how I have some space in my life to say “yes.”