This chronic “yessing” must stop. Yes, I can help your non-profit. Is it money, time or a potluck contribution that you need? Yes, I’ll make ____ for to the potluck. Yes, I can attend the meeting. Yes, I can ______ fill in the blank. Does this sound like your life too? Willingness, a desire to contribute, abundant good health and stamina leads me to say yes without thinking and before calculating my time and resources. My butterfly-like attention span flits to a smorgasbord of worthy causes and interesting topics. I’m on overload and so is my e-mail in box. Is everyone overwhelmed, or am I projecting?

Although I support Obama’s message “Yes we can” a million percent, fundamentally re-evaluating “yes” so that when I say it, my commitment is behind it is surely more effective. In The Year of Living Dangerously, the 1982 movie set in Indonesia, the take away message was to make a solid difference in life. The reporter befriended a family, literally making the difference between life and death. Friends remind me to put my own oxygen mask on first. Good advice.