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DAVID BENTLEY'S COLUMN

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JUST SAYING YES

I'm writing this column as quickly as I can. I've put off writing it all week due to the flood of emotions between remembering those who died on September 11th and concern over world affairs. However a phone call put everything into perspective and snapped me right back into the present moment.

Months ago, the wonderful woman who cleans my apartment offered to help me clean my carpet. Already due a Congressional Medal of Honor for cleaning my apartment in general-- after all, I'm a bachelor -- the fact that she would be willing to help with the carpet was astounding. Of course, until she mentioned it, I hadn't really noticed that the carpet needed cleaning.

So this morning as I sat down to write a column, the phone rang. It was my housekeeper cheerily saying that if I was available to help move furniture, she'd load up her equipment and come clean the carpet. Suddenly I was filled with the most amazing array of emotions.

At first, I wanted to say, "No way, Jose! It's 9:30 on Saturday morning and I have much better things to do than clean carpet." Then I realized that she probably also had better things to do, but was doing this as a favor for me.

Next, I heard a voice in my head say, "But you've got to write your column. You don't have time to move furniture, and you can't let wet carpet keep you away from your computer right now." What was I to do?

Finally, I said out loud, "That's wonderful! I'll be here, and I'll start moving things out of the way." Now, only 45 minutes later, I've moved most of the furniture out of the way and am almost finished with my column. With any luck, I'll get it sent off to the editors before my patron saint of housecleaning arrives.

  • How do you react when asked to be flexible?

  • What excuses do you create for being inflexible?

  • What's really holding you back from saying yes?

  • How would your life be different if you were more flexible?

© 2002 David Bentley

David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world.

He can be reached by phone at 360.378.8436

by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com

or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com

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