Recently I started listening to the book, The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. I’d heard her on a podcast and got curious about who she is. For those that don’t know, she is a screenwriter and some of her works are Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and Bridgerton.
What I found intriguing is this highly successful woman was a serious introvert, and when I say serious, I mean serious. She didn’t want to do anything but write. That was her comfort space. When she started to get successful and was invited to all kinds of events, she wouldn’t go. It was just too much. She always said no.
I identified with her story as I, too, find myself not getting out, staying away from people and events if I’m not seeing them in the office. I’m realizing how alone this is. I’m not lonely, I quite like my own company. What I yearn for is experiences. Oh, I’ve tried to have people to go to events with but the best way I can describe it is I’m a bit quirky with my tastes, and most of all, if I’m done being at an event, I’m done, gone, leaving.
During the listening of this book, my mind began to think of ways that I could learn to say yes. While I’m not going to do it for a whole year, I decided to break it down to the summer, starting June 1st through August 30th. I’m calling it the Summer of Yes 2023 and created a hashtag #summerofyes2023. I’ve even updated one of my Instagram page for exactly this purpose.
I want to embrace getting out of my comfort zone. I want to explore different ways of doing things. I have developed such social anxiety that it keeps me from doing much. I get all up in my head and create scenarios that I will end up standing by myself, no one to talk with, and so on. That silly voice of mine, it’s so convincing, though!
Let’s not forget my good friend anxiety. Do you have a good friend called anxiety also? I mean, not just a good friend but a long-time one also. I’ve known anxiety since the age of three. I’m tired of how much anxiety plays a role in my life. Sometimes even controlling and having a feeling of being frozen in fear. It’s exhausting at times! I’m working with anxiety to calm it down, to breathe through the sense in my stomach, reminding myself I always have choices.
So, I’ve decided to try saying yes. Yes to honoring myself, yes to experiences, yes to moving this body, yes to events I’ve been wanting to go to for years. I’ll take you along on this journey if you’d like. One thing you can do is follow my Instagram account here SummerofYes2023, but I’ll also occasionally fill you in here in the newsletter.
What are you planning for the summer? Are you overwhelmed with the thought of doing anything? Are you ready to make a change, regardless of the size of it? Are you happy with the way things are but would like to make things a bit richer and more expansive? Let’s connect soon and explore options to break down barriers, release, and breathe into the life you desire!
