Shonda Rhimes said yes to writing a book, and I said yes to reading the book. Everything after the two days I spent immersed in the revised mind of this exceptional showrunner – is history.

Shonda’s “Year of Yes” was born when her older sister told her: “you never say ‘yes’ to anything.” After that day, Shonda started to say yes to what challenged her, like giving interviews, taking a break from work to be with the kids, and even taking care of her own body.

Before the year of the yes, Shonda was half dead for life, living on automatic, keeping herself in comfortable situations. Immersed in her own mind, creating her world, she ran two primetime American TV series, and that was all the ‘yes’ she was willing to give. Until the day of the ‘yes.’

I understand her. I arrived in New York, and I wanted to get back to my comfort zone as soon as possible, but there was no way. Either you live in New York or stay in your comfort zone. You can’t do both!

For three years, I struggled with my reality, said many “no,” hid, created my own world, shared a little of it on social media, and a lot in the book released soon. Today I am relearning to live and to say yes.

Being immersed in Shonda’s yes woke me up. Don’t get me wrong, a person needs more than 300 pages. I used every resource I had available. My will to live was more significant than the heavy phase. Not everyone has it. Shonda was lucky to have a wise sister, but I needed my intention to grow inside me.

Thank you, Shonda, for saying yes for a year and then for saying yes to writing about this year. It would be effortless to say that your book saved me. I would definitely get some points in the flattery. I would give your ego a treat – not that you need it, but it’s not wrong to be recognized for something; on the contrary, it’s crucial. Your book didn’t save me, but it woke me up to all the possibilities of being alive.