Why do we find it so much easier to shut down our minds than to open them up? Have you noticed that when you give – or get – advice the automatic response is, "but …"? It’s so easy to come up with excuses, with reasons why something won’t work, with ways to shut down.
"Yes, and …" is a lesson from Improv that carries over to everyday life. One way to keep a story going is to pick up on what the last speaker said by starting with "yes, and …." Try it out in a conversation. It’s a wonderful way to shift from closed to open. "Yes, and …" makes everything possible. "Yes, and …" makes you smile. It makes you feel lighter. It expands the universe. It’s hard to say without a smile.
What have you been saying "NO" to lately? Try "Yes, and …!"
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Came across this in Vanity Fair:
120 | THE GENTLEMAN GRAFTER With his hand-tailored suits and Turnbull & Asser ties, Joe Ades definitely looks the part of a Park Avenue swell. But unlike his neighbors, Ades works the streets—selling potato peelers. Following the irresistible 72-year-old from the bar at the Pierre to the Union Square Greenmarket, Howard Kaplan profiles a New York character who built his fortune $5 at a time. Photographs by Jonathan Becker.
For me, this was worth more than the price of the magazine. Anyone who shops at the Greenmarket knows this guy. He puts on an incredible floor show day after day, dressed impeccable, spieling away with great flare in his Cockney accent. You won’t often see someone who takes such joy in his work. Well, maybe not since
I Love Lucy. Drama! Flair! Flying vegetable peel! If you live in New York City, go watch. If you don’t, go read. I promise you’ll be smiling.
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My legacy -
What will it be?
Flowers in spring,
The cuckoo in summer,
And the crimson maple of autumn…
Ryokan (1758-1831) Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf, p.143 – Translated by John Stevens
This lovely thought came across my screen a few days ago and I just wanted to pass it on.
What will your legacy be?
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