When I read Shonda Rhimes’ book Year of Yes, I was inspired by all of the exciting things she said yes to. Of course, I am not Shonda Rhimes, and I didn’t expect anyone to ask me to make a commencement speech or do a TEDx Talk, but I thought I would be saying yes to some more exciting and challenging opportunities.

Yes, to the 5 AM(ish) Club

I am a solid member of the 5 AM (ish) club. Sometimes I get up before 5 AM, and sometimes I sleep in until 6 AM or stay in bed until 5:30 AM, but the main point is that my mornings are way more productive than they used to be.

I have always loved morning workouts, and so that tends to be my main motivator to get up, but I also read, write, and even get my day prepared early in the morning. It has been a game-changer for sure.

Yes, to Reconnecting and Changing My Environment

So far, my Year of Yes has mainly been about fun and reconnecting with my life starting lineup.

Going into 2026, one of my main intentions was to change my environment, and the biggest piece of that for me was the people.  I needed my people back in my life, and it has improved my life by 100%.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason I have not been presented with exciting and challenging opportunities is because of load management. When life is organically changing, these changes happen little by little so that we do not become overwhelmed. I needed to get the environment right, which is helping me to shift my mindset, and we all know mindset matters most.

The first quarter of the year has been focused on changing my environment, reassembling my village, and shifting my mindset. This second quarter, my intention is to join a great team, so I hope to say yes to some exciting opportunities that come up!

Yes, to Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind, and Fire Concert for My Birthday

The first part of my forties has been horrible, so with that in mind, I have decided that I am going to treat myself for about two years to make up for how awful these last few years have been.

I love Lionel Richie’s music.  He is getting up there in age, as we all are, and so I definitely want to see him before he stops touring.My parents loved Earth, Wind, and Fire, and I grew up listening to their music. I appreciate it and love it now as well. Of course, “September” is my anthem this year, and honestly, “Reasons” has been speaking to me as well, along with “That’s the Way of the World.”  I am excited to hear “the elements” in person. Live Music with instruments is where it’s at!

Yes, to reaching out to one of my favorite people

One Sunday morning, I had a nudge to contact one of my favorite people. I had several numbers for her and wanted to confirm which one was correct. I texted her, and she asked if I was free because she was thinking about me as well. We ended up talking for two hours. It has been years since we’ve seen one another, and we have both been through the fire, but now feels like the time to reconnect and start this new era of our lives.

I thought about what Jeff Hamaoui, founder of Modern Elder Academy, shared at the SF Chronicle’s Aging and Longevity Summit: “Always Go First”.  If you’re thinking about someone, then always go first.