Tonight, I said “yes” to a large number of requests from my children. Larger than normal, that is – I already make it a point to say “yes” to them as often as I can.
As a result, I played some fun board games with them, cooked with them, and even had quiet, adjacent reading time with my eldest (after which we discussed the books we’d been reading). All in all, a wonderful evening.
Beyond just enjoying spending time with my kids, there’s a greater behavior I’m trying to impart here, both on them and on myself.
On them: I want to train them to assume I’ll say “yes” unless I have a good reason to say no. I want them to ask me!
Because, on me: I want to train myself to make the time that’s requested of me, instead of constantly filling every second. I’m a proactive guy by default, which is good but can have the unpleasant side effect of making me over-busy. So I’m trying to let myself be open and reactive more. A couple of days a week where I have nothing planned, except saying “yes.”
The time gets filled more joyously that way.
The Opportunity Machine 