How to flake...ethically
Oh, hi friends!
This Saturday, I watched my friend Aransas run the Boston Marathon.
She ran it on the streets of Brooklyn, on a course of her own making, straight through a finish line held by her daughters.
Nothing has gone as planned this year — typically the Boston Marathon is held in April — but thanks to a “virtual” edition, she was able to make her dream, over seven years in the making, happen in her own completely unique way.
That was inspiring to me, and I hope it inspires you, too.
We can adjust. We can keep dreaming. Onward.
“Saying yes to an obligation you secretly hope won’t happen is worse than saying no.”
From my new article for Forge, “How to Ethically Flake.” I dunno about you but I feel particularly flaky this year? So I wanted to get into why we still overcommit:
“We say yes because it’s attractive to be the “yes” person — the one who has it so together she never has to say no. But mostly we say yes because we’re seeking some kind of assurance that later will be better than now.”
There is a way forward! We can be honest with each other (and ourselves). In my piece, I share some scripts, like what to tell your editor when you know you’re going to be late filing your story, or what to say to a friend if you’re not going to make the group hang. I hope you find it helpful (and that I find out I’m not alone!).
If this life is one act
Why do we lay all these traps
We put them right in our path
When we just wanna be free
Didn’t we all have a Jason Mraz phase at some point in our lives?? Thanks to my Mom for sending me his years-old song, “Living in the Moment,” a sunny little delight whose video reminds me of all my favorite parts of New York.
Has anyone started Do It For Yourself? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts and which bits and parts and prompts might be resonating with you so I can share them widely.
Outside the U.S.? Go here for free international shipping!
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara