It’s Still There – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw

“Saying yes is the way the flower of the soul

breaks through the stone of the world.”

– Mark Nepo



What would it take for you to be a yes?
Not a maybe or a probably,
but a full-on screaming YES! 

When was the last time you shouted out a YES
with the excitement of an eight-year-old? 
You know the one, where the kid gets a new bike or puppy and goes out of control with joyousness.

Can you remember?

What is with this hesitation to vocalize the affirmation?
Is it not proper, adult-like?
Has it been trimmed off like the crusts of bread because that is the way your mother did it?

Where did your loud YES go?

I suspect your YES is just hibernating, curled up in safe slumber. 
It's not too late,  
reach for that voice inside
and wake it up. 

It is ok to start small, soft.
You can increase the volume over time.

© Alicia Grimshaw 2026

Photo taken on a fantastic winter hike near Sedona, Arizona. Keep saying YES to what makes your heart sing.

19 thoughts on “It’s Still There – Poem by Ali Grimshaw”

  2. What a lovely topic to ponder about – when did we last say yes, when did we allow ourselves to feel like a child and fully say yes to something that excites us. I agree with you that for some of us, our YES is hibernating. It’s waiting there for us to shout it out into the world when we are ready.

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  4. A great post Ali. My yeses still excite me. I’ve toned them down a bit but they come out often. And yours? 😜
    I love Mark Nepo. How I love Mark Nepo. I have The Half-Life of Angels. Isn’t that a phenomenal good book? Me think so. The quote you chose-stupendous. Thanks.

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