Serenalinziwellbeing

Funny how life has a habit of testing you on the very thing you’re trying to work on… 🙈

I’ve been working really hard on my people-pleasing lately. The last webinar I watched was called “Saying Yes When You’re Feeling No” and it was all about learning to stop saying yes when every part of you is screaming no.

It was brilliant and I took loads from it.

But yesterday… life decided to put me to the test.

Ayla had reluctantly agreed to go to a tennis taster session at our local health club while I disappeared into the gym for an hour.

When we got there she was the only one who’d turned up.

The coach smiled and said, “Would Mum like to join in? I’ll coach both of you.”

Inside my head?

Absolutely not. 😂

I’ve never played tennis in my life. I’m one of those people who avoids trying new things because I’m terrified of looking stupid. Throw in the fact it was one of the hottest days of the year, we were indoors with no air con, and I’d already mentally committed to my gym session… it was an easy no.

I got as far as the curtain… looked back… and saw Ayla.

She had this little smile. Hopeful. Excited. But also that look that said, “Mummy probably won’t stay.”

And I just thought…

How can I spend my life encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones if I’m not willing to do it myself?

How can I teach my daughter to have a go, make mistakes and not worry about getting things perfect… if she never sees me doing exactly that?

So I turned around.

Cancelled the class.

And walked back in.

Was I any good?

Absolutely not. 🤣

My neurodivergent brain got completely muddled with left and right instructions. I was clunky. Awkward. Sweating buckets. But the coach was so kind and patient, and before I knew it I was actually… enjoying myself.

More than that though…

I got an hour of uninterrupted time with my daughter.

No phones.

No rushing.

No “Mum’s just got to answer this email.”

Just us.

And the look on her face when I came back onto that court is one I’ll never forget.

So, I guess not every ‘reluctant yes’ turns into bitter resentment.

Sometimes saying yes to something that scares you, simply because it might create joy, connection or a memory, is exactly the right kind of yes.

Safe to say… we’ll be back next week. 🎾❤️

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