"Yes" Month

MADISONVILLE, Ky.--I today announced July 2009 is "Yes" Month. As part of the initiative, I will be try to assume more of a posture of "yes" to a wider variety of personal and professional requests.

"I’m glad to see Eric throwing caution to the wind with his ‘Yes’ program," said Kristin Duskin-Gadd, a friend and associate of me for nearly two decades. "Instead of furrowing his brow and checking his day planner, Eric is now more likely to nod at the suggestion to spend Thanksgiving in Georgia."

While "Yes" Month kicked off officially on only July 1, preparations have been underway for months. My wife, daughter and I joined Cindy, Cora and Rob McCracken in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., July 4-6 following a "yes" response to the McCrackens' vacation invitation. Also, later in July, I will be portraying Paul in a series of evening Vacation Bible School appearances at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) here in Madisonville--again the product of a "yes" response to a request to participate. Finally, the Nance Woehlers have said "yes" to Connie and Tom Nance's tentative request to keep their dog, Lucky, while they travel to Utah. A version of "yes" is said to be forthcoming to Kristin Duskin-Gadd's Thanksgiving invite.

"I'm almost 41 years old, and, frankly, how far has my own agenda gotten me?" I said. "Whatever good has happened in my life has been the result of going with others' flow--'taking what the defense gives me,' you might call it. The announcement of 'Yes' Month is merely a more conscious and concerted effort to adopt this best practice moving forward. I'm excited to build on the success of the just-elapsed Bulgaria Month and to see where 'Yes' Month takes me."