Ah YES, we've all heard it. The end of the year rolls around and we start to reflect on the past few months, our triumphs, our failures, our adventures, and of course what we would do differently. Then we begin to shift our focus to the next year. We think about our dreams, our goals, our new travels, and of course new opportunities.
My mom recently told me about a book, Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. Shonda Rhimes is the creator of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder, and yet she still found herself in a boring slump. She creates such passion, humor, love, and adventure in her shows but in her own life it's become almost too much to even attend a cocktail party. One day when her sister muttered, "You never say yes to anything," Shonda began to reflect on her behavior in the past year. Feeling shocked, she vowed to change. For the next year, she would say yes to everything that scared her.
What a challenge. I don't know about you all but saying yes to everything that scares me sounds like a heart murmur waiting to develop. Speaking in a speech competition? Going to another country by yourself for the entire summer? Running a marathon?
That sounds terrifying. Now, I haven't read the book yet (hurry up Amazon Prime), but I have a feeling that by saying yes her entire life changed dramatically. I know I can get set in my ways, staying in this little safe zone bubble of life. I'm not going to say It's bad, but I wouldn't say it's good either; it's neutral. Do I want to live a lukewarm life? Who wakes up and says I want to live a boring life? No one. But I don't think we realize how our ritualistic lives are lukewarm.
I don't want a predictable life. I want to live life more on the edge, and no not always literally (don't expect to see me bungee jumping off a building on January 1st). That might be more of a March task... But really, I want to take a big leap of faith. I think we could all use a little a little push. So this is your push. Say yes. For the next year SAY YES.
We've all seen Yes Man, and he goes a little too far with this challenge. I'm not saying to say yes to anything that threatens your health and safety. I don't expect to see any of you pulling a Jim Carey, getting interrogated by the FBI, but I do expect a little adventure. Do things that make you uncomfortable. It could mean sparking up a conversation with a random person at your favorite coffee shop, or it could mean getting a tattoo you've wanted for years.
Say. Yes.
