I began the last two weeks posting about “Year of Yes” to share Shonda Rhimes wellness message. Along with the initial challenge from her older sister “You never say yes to anything” Delorse asks her why she is not taking advantage of all of the amazing opportunities that she has been offered. Why?

Why not? Shonda knows, “because it’s scary.” She is more comfortable with books than exposing herself to new situations and admits her spark is gone. She admits “I’m miserable”. Shonda decides to say yes to anything and everything that scares her for an entire year. Her competitive nature fuels her commitment to the challenge. However, just the thought of giving the commencement address at her alma mater is enough to bring on a panic attack. As she flies off to Dartmouth, she tucks her prepared speech into a new file she entitles CRAP and composes a new speech, which will tell the truth and say “yes to being me”.   As she steps up to the podium and looks out at the students, she sees herself, exhales and becomes someone new who is comfortable and unafraid! Say yes to be a healthy you in body and spirit.

Shonda begins to understand after more that a year of yes “the very act of saying yes is not just life-changing, it is life-saving”. That spirit , that spark is what Shonda states makes each of us alive and unique. That spirit needs to live in each of us.