Say yes

When thinking back to some of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had the pleasure of participating in, I think of things like intense and exciting buzzer-beater games, meeting someone special, or traveling and doing something new. A new place, a new experience. 

Fifteen years ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to thousands of school children from across the country at the Lincoln Memorial, National Mall in Washington D.C. It wasn’t my first time visiting our nation’s capital but it certainly was different; never before had I been given a microphone on the steps of a memorial and asked to deliver an address. Afterward, I was flooded with questions, comments of “thank you for being here,” and hugs. It truly was an experience of a lifetime for a simple, Nebraska-raised young woman, who’d made her way to Colorado, and at the age of only 31 years, found herself with this opportunity. 

An opportunity made possible because, at the time, I was the reigning Mrs. America. 

Many times when people ask me about my pageant experience, they tend to lead with questions like, “what did you have to do for the competition?” or “why would you compete?” For the longest time, I felt the need to respond with a well-thought-out answer, focusing on the hours and dedication it takes to prepare for a competition (which it does) and my goal of getting back into shape as well as proving to myself I could do it (which I did). But a few years ago, I stopped providing those responses. Not because they weren’t true, but after reflection, they weren’t the most important things to emanate from the decision; the experience of competing and the experiences that followed were what made it special and impactful to my life.

And it was possible because I said yes.

Far too many times we sit with our thoughts and overthink things that we might otherwise jump on board and try. Our heads can get flooded with questions like, “should I do this? What if I don’t know what I’m doing? What if it’s hard? What if I don’t win? What will people think? What will they say? How will I respond?” The pressure of whether or not it’s the right fit, the right time, or both, can sometimes be enough for us to talk ourselves out of something before we even begin.

But saying yes to something that you’ve been thinking about could be exactly what you need. And today could be the day to sit for a moment, think more deeply about it, and decide to move forward and try.

I could continue to share more stories of what Mrs. Colorado and Mrs. America meant to me and did for me, all because I decided to say yes and go for it. But they are simply examples of an experience I said yes to. There are other experiences that I’ve said yes to and a lot that I’ve said no to. Some of which worked out and others I still feel like I missed out. And rather than continue to think about the “what if”, what if today you thought about the “what could be?”  

Yesterday, kicked off the annual Mrs. Colorado pageant competition, where my journey to Mrs. America started, and I had the pleasure of emceeing preliminary night with my friend, Shalon. A former herself, who I most likely wouldn’t have met had both of us not said yes and decided to compete years ago. And this weekend, should anyone ask me, “why would you compete”, I’ll respond with the same reply I have been using for a few years now. "Why wouldn’t I compete?"

What do you need to say yes to?

With my friend Shalon Polson, emceeing the Mrs. Colorado Preliminary Competition last night, April 7, 2022