I know Nicole from our Sara and Morrison YMCA classes, and I had heard about the loss of her son, Carson, and the legacy he left through the Why Not? Foundation. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Nicole and her husband, Jason, about my first book, Heart Over Hustle: A Framework to Reclaim Your Time, Truth, and Treasure. As we talked, they shared more about Carson and the message behind “Why Not?” and encouraged me to share my story.

Carson’s message is simple: Why not?

Why not step outside your comfort zone? Why not take the trip, try something new, reconnect with someone you love, or take the first step toward something you’ve been putting off?

My own “why not?” moment looked different.

For more than 20 years, I worked in business transformation, helping organizations navigate growth, restructuring, and change. I became very good at getting things done. But somewhere along the way, I realized that my pace had outrun my purpose.

The calendar was full. The to-do list never ended. I was there for everyone else, yet what mattered most could easily get pushed aside.

I began asking myself: What happens when our lives become too full and no longer reflect what matters most to us? What happens when our pace has outrun our purpose?

Those questions became the foundation for Heart Over Hustle.

Writing and publishing my first book was one of my own “Why Not?” moments. I had never written a book before, and I could have continued to put it off. Instead, I decided to take the first step.

The book began with my own personal story, but I didn’t write it just for me. I wrote it for the many people I know who are struggling with the same things I was struggling with: feeling overwhelmed, constantly moving, and wondering if their lives still reflect what matters most.

Heart Over Hustle is my hope that someone else will pause, reflect, and make room for what matters. We have 24 hours each day, and I believe we all deserve the opportunity to live them with greater intention and purpose.

For me, living with “Why Not?” doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. It means being intentional about saying yes to the things that matter.

What have you been putting off? What might happen if you stopped asking “what if?” and started asking “why not?”

I’m grateful to Nicole and Jason for sharing Carson’s story with me and for keeping his legacy alive through the Why Not? Foundation.

Let’s live with why nots and Live What Matters Most To you!

Anna Clark