No.
No.
No.
There are endless reasons to say no.
Too busy.
Too many responsibilities.
Too exhausted.
Too {whatever}.
Saying no is easier than saying yes, nearly always.
No opens your time, freeing you to do just about anything: closet-cleaning! sock-mending! pie-baking! bath-taking!
Yes creates obligation -- to act, to participate, to expend effort one way or the other.
No is freedom.
Yes is commitment.
I'm really good at saying no.
Watch this:
No, thanks.
I'd love to, but I can't.
Sounds like an incredible opportunity! Sadly, I have to decline because of t, u, v, w, x, y, and also z.
...
I said yes.
And on Sunday, I leave for Israel.
When the Ministry of Tourism for the State of Israel invites you to learn about its country's food first-hand, you don't say no. You don't opt for closet-cleaning, sock-mending, pie-baking, or bath-taking. You pack your bag, you grab your passport, you mail your ballot, and you say the only thing an American Jew who has never been to Israel and who writes about food for a living says to such an invitation.
You say yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Please stay tuned.
I'm taking you with me.
