When I was five
I heard the word No
for the first time from my Mother.
The little rebel in me said to myself
I can’t wait to grow up,
to be taken seriously, to be treated equally,
change myself completely.
So that I won’t have to take
No for an answer.


When I was fifteen
I heard the word No from my crush.
The hopeless romantic in me said to myself
I can’t wait to grow up,
get a job, make a career,
change my life completely.
So that I won’t have to take
No for an answer.


When I was twenty five
I heard the word No from my boss.
The dreamer in me said to myself
may be I should move on, settle down,
change my life completely.
So that I won’t have to take
No for an answer.


When I was thirty five
I heard the word No from my kids.
I took a pause and said No
back to them for the first time.
Wow, did it feel good.
May be I should say No more often.

And my life has never been the same ever since.