My husband says that to me, when I express even the slightest bit of tiredness with whatever I’m doing as a volunteer. He says it perhaps because he works really hard. If he had the choice to be less tired, he’d probably say “no” to a lot of things.

But I don’t need reminding. I know I can always say “no.” I know I, unlike my husband, have a choice.

Our kids, they love, and I mean LOVE, to be chased around the house, by a grown up who is pretending to be either a ghost, a lion, or a bad guy from Star Wars. They run and run and run, and laugh and laugh and laugh, until somebody, usually the grown-up but often our son, announces: “I’m tired!” They take a break, and move on to the next fun thing, that requires less physical energy.

We don’t suggest to our kids, “You can always play a game that doesn’t make you tired.” That would make no sense whatsoever. They have energy. They should spend it. They have imagination. They should use it.

I could always say “no.” But I don’t want to. I have energy. I have imagination.

It feels so good to use it. To be of use.

To make others happy.