The Courage to Say No
We need to look no further than the 2020 Olympic Games for evidence of that. When Simone Biles stepped back from her chance to win another gold medal, she sent a powerful message to anyone who wanted to listen.
She decided that the right thing to do for herself was to step back. The right thing for Simone was also the right thing for the team. They all supported her decision and stepped up to win the silver medal in the all-around team competition.
But she didn’t make the decisions for her team, or for anyone other than herself.
Saying no is empowering. Simone couldn’t be forced to participate. She knew if she tried to – and forced herself- she could be injured.
By saying no, she let the rest of us know that it is okay to say no. It’s okay to be empowered – to not follow someone else’s rules.
When I was growing up, I was taught to maximize my potential. If I didn’t, I was wasting it. I might not ever get another chance. If an opportunity presented itself it was my responsibility to go for it.
In Simone’s case, she had a potential gold medal ripe for the picking. She is the recognized GOAT. For her to say, no, I’m not going to compete right now, it’s not right for me is a huge statement.
She’s following in Naomi Osaka’s footsteps – another Black woman. And Naomi joins others – Stacy Abrams, voting rights advocate, Rosalind Brewer, CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States and many more successful Black women who have stepped up into who they knew they wanted to be, understanding the challenges they would face.
It’s a continual push for individuality. A recognition and announcement that what I want and who I am is so much more important than what my family, my employer, or society demands from me.
Every time you say yes or no to something, you are empowering yourself. You too are following in the footsteps of these amazing people and you are contributing to the shift in the world.