Why Not? A Little Question That Leads to Big Things

“You see things, and you say ‘Why?’

I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?’”

— George Bernard Shaw

My friend Landon’s daughter Rowan is packing for her freshman year at college this fall. Since the age of 12, she has been chasing her dream of playing Division 1 Volleyball. After thousands of hours in the gym, hundreds of matches in dozens of cities, and a wall full of medals, she finally realized her vision when she committed to the University of Akron.

Rowan had A Plan.

Then, just one month before move-in day, on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday evening after the dinner dishes were cleared, she blindsided her parents with The News.

Rowan announced she wanted to quit volleyball, withdraw from Akron and, instead, pursue an entirely different path at a different university. She was burned out.  

Landon and his wife, Sarah, were stunned.

“I can’t play volleyball anymore,” Rowan said, tears in her eyes. “There is so much more I want out of my college experience, including exploring who I am outside of volleyball. My heart isn’t in it anymore, but I have a huge passion for Exercise Science, and getting involved, and being social.”

“She had a whole presentation,” Landon told me, shaking his head, a mix of pride and disbelief in his eyes. “She had it all outlined with key points. There were even prompts in her notes to ‘Pause and let parents talk.’ We were blown away.” 

Landon’s first thoughts were not exactly constructive. Had he said them out loud, they may have sounded vaguely like “Hell, no!” and “Oh yes, you will!”

“There were so many reasons to shut it down,” said Landon. “But here was our daughter, owning a really big, adult decision, presenting a thoughtful case for it, and asserting herself in a poised, composed way. Sarah and I looked at each other and asked, “Why not?”

That one question shifted them from resistance to possibility. I haven’t met Rowan, but I have to imagine there must have been a moment when she also had to ask, Why not?, and summon the courage to make a Big Shift and a Big Case for her dreams.

And so, as a result of Rowan, Landon and Sarah each asking that spectacular question and taking a leap of bravery and faith, Rowan is enrolled - and thrilled- to begin studying Exercise Science at the University of Missouri this fall.

“Why not?”

Such a powerful question to ask ourselves, isn’t it? “Why Not?”shifts our focus from limitations… to possibilities.

Why not? is the question asked by those of us courageous enough to stretch beyond the comfortable, who are willing to pivot when life doesn’t go as planned.

My friend Lisa was traveling back from a business trip when her flight was cancelled, leaving her with a 6-hour delay. “I was stuck in a crowded terminal, laptop on my knees and bumping elbows with strangers. I thought, ‘This is ridiculous. I’ve never seen Detroit. Why not?” So, she hailed a cab and took herself and her carry-on to the Detroit Zoo, then had dinner nearby in Greektown." I had the best day!” she told me. “I got to feed giraffes! Can you believe it?! I had the most amazing souvlaki of my life, and brought homemade baklava home for my husband, who was thrilled.”

All because she asked herself, Why not?

Years ago, my brother-in-law Joe, a die-hard music buff with an easy smile and a gift for conversation, went to see one of his favorite bands at a small venue just outside Philadelphia.

After the final encore, while the stage crew began packing up, Joe made his way to the soundboard. With his signature warmth and easy rapport, he struck up a conversation with the sound guy, raving about the show and sharing his longtime love for the band. Then, with his friendly, sincere grin, he asked, “Any chance I could have the band’s set list?”

“I figured, why not?,” he told me afterwards. “The worst that can happen is that they say ‘No.’” That set list now hangs prominently on the wall in Joe’s music room. And, we never get tired of hearing Joe tell the story about the night he got to help load the band’s guitars into their van.

I think back to all the moments I stretched myself with, “Why not?”

•   Why not? had me leaving my “good” corporate job years ago to pursue a career in professional training and talent development —something I had no experience in at the time and knew almost nothing about.

•   Why not?” has me writing books and stretching outside of my comfort zone in all kinds of wild and breathtaking ways that I never saw coming.

•   ‘Why not? had me playing with baby tigers in Thailand and dancing at a Scottish Ceilidh (KAY-lee), in a tiny Highland town, awkwardly hopping to avoid stomping on my partner’s toes, laughing my head off the entire time. (Scroll down to see me "dancing" - really badly!)

What interesting paths has Why Not? put you on?

Who has come into your life because of asking Why Not?

When life tosses us a curveball, or an opportunity to stretch ourselves, it’s easy to say, “Nope. That wasn’t the plan.” Or “That’s too much. Too risky. Too uncomfortable."

But what might happen if you were a little more intentional about noticing the opportunity, taking a deep breath and asking, “Why not?” Even if it doesn’t work out the way you expect, maybe it puts you right where you are meant to be. And, if  you learn something, you haven’t failed.

Why not? helps you see possibilities and invites you to stay open, flexible, and brave.

Wouldn’t it be cool to see where this one question can take you?

Why not?

Stay Strong. Stay Kind.

With so much love,

Susan

Happiness Practice

•           What’s something you’ve wanted to try, but haven’t—because of fear, doubt, or habit? Why Not now?

•           What if you stopped waiting to feel “ready” and just took just one small step?

•           What’s one thing you could say “Why Not?” to today—just to see what happens?

Why Not? inspired me to write Real-Life Extraordinary, to remind you how extraordinary you already are, and help you step into the next level of already-fabulous YOU!

Enjoy a Sneak Peek of Chapter 1 here.

Coming October 8, 2025!

Click below to see me dancing (badly!) at a Scottish Ceilidh