Some moments in life arrive quietly — a story we hear, a sentence that lingers, a spark that nudges us toward something braver. For me, that spark came while driving to my next stop on this journey, listening to a podcast featuring Shonda Rhimes — the brilliant creator of Grey’s Anatomy. She shared how, even after all her success, she realized she had been living small. She often said no to opportunities — interviews, speaking engagements, events — because she was shy and preferred to stay home.
Then she made a decision that changed everything: for one year, she would say yes to the things that scared her. Yes to showing up. Yes to being seen. Yes to growth. That commitment not only transformed her life but also inspired her to write her book Year of Yes. By the end of that year, she had become a different person — more confident, more open, more alive.
Listening to her story, I felt such a connection. In many ways, this new chapter in my life is my own version of saying yes. It was scary to sell nearly everything I owned, leave behind what was familiar, and begin life as a nomad — traveling full time and not knowing exactly what each next stop will bring. But it was something I had dreamed about for years.
And honestly, saying yes to the things that scare me isn’t new. I’ve carried a fear of heights for as long as I can remember — the kind that makes my stomach drop on even a third-floor balcony. Then one year, my son gave me a journal-style book all about feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It was the push I needed.
Slowly, I started choosing courage on purpose.
I went ziplining over a river in the mountains — absolutely terrifying, yet somehow exhilarating.
I drove over the “scariest bridge in America” with knuckles so tight I’m amazed the steering wheel survived.
And in Japan, I inched across a shaky rope bridge I nearly talked myself out of.
None of those moments erased my fear of heights. But each one reminded me that I’m stronger than the voice that says don’t.
I think many of us go through life doing what we’re supposed to do — checking off the boxes, following routines, and putting off the things our hearts quietly long for. We dream of adventure, creativity, or change, but fear whispers all the reasons why we shouldn’t take the leap.
For me, this journey is about courage and trust — saying yes to the unknown, yes to new places, and yes to becoming who I’m meant to be. Every time I choose to step forward instead of step back, I discover a little more freedom.
And maybe that’s the quiet beauty of saying yes: we don’t have to become fearless — we just have to become willing.