Naomi Weisman is the writer of Nomi's Pics and the editor of the Rambler Cafe Blog. She is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to Ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
There are moments in life when we realize we’ve been living a little too safely—saying no out of habit, fear, or sheer exhaustion. Year of Yes begins in exactly that place. Known for creating powerhouse television like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, Shonda Rhimes had built a career around bold, complex characters—yet in her own life, she was quietly saying “no” to almost everything that pushed her outside her comfort zone.
This month’s selection comes with a beautiful layer of community behind it. One of our Sole Sisters read this memoir and recommended it to the group—and, perhaps even more meaningfully, has embraced it in her own life. This is her “Year of Yes,” inspired directly by the courage and honesty of Shonda’s journey. It feels especially fitting that we read this together, knowing it is already creating real, lived impact within our community.
This memoir invites us into the year Shonda decided to change. What unfolds is not just a story about saying yes, but about confronting fear, reclaiming voice, and stepping more fully into one’s own life.
About the Author
Shonda Rhimes is one of the most influential storytellers in modern television, responsible for creating some of the most iconic female-led series of the past two decades. Despite her professional confidence, this memoir reveals a deeply human side—one marked by introversion, anxiety, and a tendency to stay behind the scenes. Her decision to say “yes” was sparked by a simple but piercing observation from her sister: that Shonda never said yes to anything.
What follows is a year of intentional discomfort, growth, and surprising transformation.
A Gentle Framework for Reading This Memoir
Rather than focusing on traditional “themes” and “questions,” this guide invites you to move through the memoir as a personal reflection—almost like a quiet conversation between Shonda’s experiences and your own.
As you read, you might notice how often fear disguises itself as practicality. Shonda’s journey highlights the many ways we justify staying within our comfort zones—whether through busyness, self-doubt, or the familiarity of routine. Her “year of yes” becomes less about dramatic change and more about recognizing those quieter, habitual no’s.
You may also find yourself reflecting on the idea of visibility. For someone so successful, Shonda often preferred to stay behind the scenes. Her story gently explores the tension between competence and confidence—how we can excel in our lives and still hesitate to step forward or be seen.
Another thread woven throughout is the concept of identity. As Shonda begins to shift her responses to the world around her, she also begins to reconsider how she defines herself—not just by what she does, but by how she experiences her life.
You might also pause to consider the role of play and joy. There is a subtle but meaningful suggestion that growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder—it can also come from allowing space for lightness, curiosity, and connection.
Moments to Notice
There are several moments in the memoir that tend to linger, not because they are dramatic, but because they feel deeply relatable. Pay attention to the smaller shifts—those internal pauses, hesitations, and decisions that mark a change in perspective.
You may notice how often growth shows up in unexpected places, and how the most meaningful changes are not always the most visible ones. The memoir invites you to look for these quieter turning points rather than focusing on any single defining moment.
Closing Reflection
Year of Yes is not a prescriptive guide or a one-size-fits-all manifesto. It’s a lived experiment. What makes it resonate is its honesty—the acknowledgment that saying yes can be uncomfortable, messy, and even uncertain.
As you move through the book, you might find yourself asking a simple but revealing question:
Where in my life have I been saying no without really meaning to?
And perhaps more importantly—what might shift, even slightly, if you didn’t?
Learn More > Virtual Fitness and Lifestyle Challenges
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