Word Up # 49: NO

No.  Just two little letters strung together.  Seemingly harmless but wow what an impact when you want something and are given no as an answer.  Most people think of it as a negative word but I am starting to believe it helps me make personal decisions about what I want in my life and what I don't.  For example I can say yes to courage and no to fear and it means the same thing really.  But there is something about the word no that gives me courage against fear.  Funny thing that little word.

So I have a story to tell.  It's what made me think of this word no and how I wanted to use it for the challenge.  On August 18th, 2007 something extraordinary happened to me.  I was walking in the woods with my two boys and my best friends two little boys.  Our house in Connecticut had a wonderful wood across the street with miles of trails.  We were on a leisurely walk under a gorgeous canopy of elm and maple trees along a small little creek.  The boys were throwing rocks and wading in the water and I being the scrapbooker, was taking pictures.     Just then I heard a rustling down the creek a little ways and turned to see a raccoon come out from under the brush.  It bared it's teeth and charged straight for us.  I yelled "run" and the 3 older boys were able to move quickly.  But my girlfriend's youngest son, who was five at the time, tripped and fell at my feet as the raccoon ran past me and bit into his leg.  It all happened very fast but it was horrible hearing poor Pearson scream in terror.  All I could think of was getting this thing off him.  I knelt over it and tried to pull it's jaws open but couldn't.  There was nothing to hit it with and I was afraid to kick it, in case it started biting Pearson's body or God forbid face, so I started to strangle it.  It slowly let go of Pearson's leg and I yelled for my youngest son to help Pearson home and call 911 as I kept strangling it.  It finally stopped moving, and when I was sure it was dead  I ran all the way home.

The raccoon, which weighed 30lbs, was found and tested positive for rabies.  Pearson and I both underwent the series of vaccines starting that very afternoon at the hospital.  He is a very brave and funny little boy and we have a bond for life now.  It was a horrible experience but about 2 weeks after it happened I woke up at about 2 in the morning and realized why that rabid raccoon came into my life.  I don't need to be afraid anymore.  Fear sucks the joy out of life.  I spent so much time feeling afraid of bad things happening.  Guess what?  Bad stuff does happen. 

People get sick, they die, sometimes people you love hurt you, you can lose your job, your kids can get into trouble, gas prices can go through the roof,your house can be worth less than you paid for it, you may not have enough money to retire.....you can be attacked and bitten by a rabid raccoon during an idylic walk in the woods. The only thing you can do is get through it..and if you have to, strangle it dead. There is no point in being afraid of it happening. Life is big and messy and complicated but I'd rather take it all than nothing.  So I decided to say NO to fear from that day on.  Since then, I have experienced  some of those very things I was so afraid of and I have to say I have been calmer, happier and more at peace than ever before.

Sometimes we need to say yes.  Sometimes we need to say no.  What are the things you want to say yes to by saying the simple word no?

We are proud to say that Dixie Pieces is the sponsor this Word Up!  They are offering up one of their awesome kits for our lucky selected winner.  

Denise

Gigi

Gudrun

 

1. nosigns, 2. no_winter, 3. no_footway, 4. k0423325, 5. DSC04977-thumb, 6. 3384218318_286ace8159_m, 7. NO, 8. 200403279-001, 9. 119164631_4de6937706_m, 10. 84033309_a7239eec3c_m, 11. 1195568953_cb2ef09320_m, 12. 61390242_025d9164e2_m, 13. 13434096_a1cb5ab5b1, 14. 12906579_2b3a8967df, 15. 7822730_a6e55e08c0_m, 16. 41_07_54---No-U-Turn-Road-Traffic-Sign_web

Jessi

Karla

Lynn

Revlie

Ronda

Don't forget to link your creations to this post by April 17th, Midnight Mountain Time (-7 GMT). If it is your first time playing with us....welcome.  We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.

Comments

[Julie]

AWESOME word....and AWESOME story!!!! LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE what the DT created .... GORGEOUS! :):):):):):):):):)

[Sue]

That is an amazing story. Great word..!

[Haggith]

great word!!!! i made a layout right away! And then saw that my theme is about the same as Revlie's....oh well. :)

love all the DT work!!!

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=165790&user_id=4472

[Denise]

Thanks for sharing your story, wow!!!
Gorgeous Layouts Ladies....thanks for all the inspiration!!!

[Kim]

Such a great revelation to share with us! I've had the same feelings of looking deeply into the word "NO!" Can't wait to start on a LO of the word.

Kim

[Glenda Tkalac]

Wow, that was an incredible story, I was riveted!! What a great word and loved all the layouts and projects!

[Leah]

that is an amazing story...thanks for sharing it with us! the word gets me thinking....
Leah

[Jillian]

Wow! What a story, what an experience!!

"What are the things you want to say yes to by saying the simple word no?" - that really impacted me! GREAT word choice, great prompt! Looking forward to giving this some real thought...

Cheers!
Jillian.

[Coralee Perry]

Wow, that was awesome!! I teach crops at my LSS, may I have your permission to use your word idea, examples and story? I thought it was all so fabulous.Your realization made me realize that I sometimes live my life in fear,and I am probably missing out on some great things because of it. Thanks so very much Denise!

[Sharmaine]

Gob Smacked.
Floored.
YOU all amaze me, love you all, love the word prompt, love what you have all created... LOVE YOU ALL.

[Christa P.]

Thought I would have trouble with this, but it ended up coming more easily than I thought!

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1476093

[janet]

What an incredible story...thanks for sharing and the inspiration that it provides! Yes, NO is a very powerful word!!

[Ann-Christin Larsen]

Love your word up! This is my take on it:))

http://lula-pieceofmyheart.blogspot.com/2009/04/olw-no.html

[Beth Perry]

Yowsa! What an amazing story! That was awesome!
Great take on what most think of as negative!
B

[Francielle]

Hello there! i`ve just discovered One little word and i just felt in love! i`m knew here but I want to give a try!

my little word is here:
http://papirgal.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-said-no-pictures.html

[Sasha]

Love the word... I didn't know if I could make it work, but then inspiration hit! It was so refreshing!!

Here's my link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37288541@N05/3433088716/

[Yvonne Y]

Great word! It's amazingly powerful. Here's mine...

http://yyam.blogspot.com/2009/04/olw-challenge-no-doubt.html

[Julie]

Here is mine....thanks for looking....and sorry if the photo is too graphic for some.... :):):)

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=166339&user_id=7807

[Tracy]

Thanks so much for this word! I've wanted to scrap this photo forever, but couldn't come up with a good title. Your word helped me come up with one, finally!

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=166487

TFL :D

[kimbo]

here's mine:

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=166501&user_id=5330

[Terri B]

A truly amazing story & as early as it is here in Australia, my mind is buzzing with an idea for this one. AMAZING work from the DT.

[Wati Basri]

here's mine :
http://scrapcreation.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post.html

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=166606&user_id=4330

btw...amazing stuffs from the DT :)

[Peggy]

Here's mine.

http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=166644&user_id=7526

Great word...so glad I had time to play along.
:0)
Peggy

[yumiko]

Hi!! Here'mine.
http://yumiko-1104.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/04/scrap-in-japan6.html
Thank you so much.

[Pamela Palmarini]

Hello... Here's mine!!... TFL... Pam

http://wonderwoman-pamela.blogspot.com/