rejection, persevering, and the courage to hear no as you search for a yes

this week's "flourish friday" is inspired by a poet at a park in CDMX

*cover photo by Kristaps Ungurs on Unsplash*

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As much as possible, I visit the park, a short walk from my place in Mexico City. Part of it is to ward off depression from relocating to a new place and still not having found community. The other part is much simpler—I love people-watching and seeing all the cute dogs running around. On most days, a man walks around, asking anyone and everyone to read one of his poems in exchange for money. We’ve become quite familiar with one another, and while I always say “no gracias” in response to asking, he continues to ask me anyway. Earlier this week, when I gave him my typical response, he said, “un dia,” as in one day I will read his poems, so he’ll continue to ask me anyway because as much as it may not seem that way, persistence pays off.