Shonda Rhimes, the visionary creator behind some of television's most beloved shows, returned to her hometown of Chicago to celebrate 10 years since embracing her mantra of saying "yes" to new experiences and opportunities. The concept, which she first explored in her bestselling memoir "Year of Yes," has become a guiding principle for her professional life and personal growth.
At a packed event at the Athenaeum Center in Lake View, Rhimes shared insights into her journey of self-discovery, revealing that empathy is the true driving force behind storytelling. According to her, all stories should serve as both "a window into a world you've never known" and "a mirror that holds up your own life," encouraging viewers to reflect on their own experiences.
Rhimes' decision to dedicate 2014 to saying yes to everything was inspired by her sister Delorse's concerns about her not being fulfilled. The gamble paid off, as Rhimes went on to take on new projects, including an episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and a guest appearance in Mindy Kaling's "The Mindy Project." This willingness to step outside her comfort zone helped her develop valuable lessons, particularly the distinction between saying yes for oneself versus doing it solely to please others.
Revisiting her original book 10 years later, Rhimes was astonished by how far she had come. The new edition of "Year of Yes" includes seven new chapters filled with heartwarming, humorous, and introspective moments from her personal journey. As a testament to her growth, Rhimes now dedicates herself to learning even more skills, including taking up golf.
At the event, a surprise reunion awaited Rhimes with former band director Greg Bimm and his wife Connie, who had unknowingly been watching from behind the curtain. Rhimes expressed gratitude for their guidance, emphasizing how they helped her develop essential life lessons about self-discipline and confidence. The evening concluded with an impromptu selfie, highlighting the power of embracing new experiences and connections.
Throughout this journey, Rhimes has consistently demonstrated that embracing uncertainty can lead to profound personal growth and creativity. By choosing to say yes to everything, she has proven that it is possible to find fulfillment in both her professional and personal life.
At a packed event at the Athenaeum Center in Lake View, Rhimes shared insights into her journey of self-discovery, revealing that empathy is the true driving force behind storytelling. According to her, all stories should serve as both "a window into a world you've never known" and "a mirror that holds up your own life," encouraging viewers to reflect on their own experiences.
Rhimes' decision to dedicate 2014 to saying yes to everything was inspired by her sister Delorse's concerns about her not being fulfilled. The gamble paid off, as Rhimes went on to take on new projects, including an episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and a guest appearance in Mindy Kaling's "The Mindy Project." This willingness to step outside her comfort zone helped her develop valuable lessons, particularly the distinction between saying yes for oneself versus doing it solely to please others.
Revisiting her original book 10 years later, Rhimes was astonished by how far she had come. The new edition of "Year of Yes" includes seven new chapters filled with heartwarming, humorous, and introspective moments from her personal journey. As a testament to her growth, Rhimes now dedicates herself to learning even more skills, including taking up golf.
At the event, a surprise reunion awaited Rhimes with former band director Greg Bimm and his wife Connie, who had unknowingly been watching from behind the curtain. Rhimes expressed gratitude for their guidance, emphasizing how they helped her develop essential life lessons about self-discipline and confidence. The evening concluded with an impromptu selfie, highlighting the power of embracing new experiences and connections.
Throughout this journey, Rhimes has consistently demonstrated that embracing uncertainty can lead to profound personal growth and creativity. By choosing to say yes to everything, she has proven that it is possible to find fulfillment in both her professional and personal life.
... Shonda Rhimes' story is truly inspiring! I mean, going from saying no to everything to embracing the unknown was a huge risk, but it paid off big time 
. Her emphasis on empathy in storytelling really resonates with me - it's all about finding that connection and understanding where others are coming from 
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. And can we talk about the power of saying yes for oneself versus trying to please others? It's such an important distinction to make!
. The fact that there are new chapters in this edition is a testament to her growth and willingness to share her journey with others 
. Overall, Shonda Rhimes' story is all about the importance of taking risks, embracing uncertainty, and being true to oneself 
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... I guess it's impressive how far you can go when you're not afraid to put yourself out there. I've been saying that about online shopping for years now 
... anyway, her book is supposed to be inspiring and all that jazz, but honestly, who doesn't already know that being open-minded is key? 
Guess it's just nice to see someone else finally figure it out 
. And golf? Really? I mean, I've seen some weird hobbies in my time, but this one takes the cake 
... can't wait to read more about her "golfing for self-discovery" journey 
. Her story is a total inspiration, especially when it comes to empathy in storytelling - I mean, who doesn't need a mirror that holds up their own life? 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is to see her take on new hobbies like golf? 
! She's proof that taking risks and saying yes to new things can lead to amazing growth and opportunities. I love how she used her journey of self-discovery to create an entire mindset around empathy in storytelling. It's so true that stories should be about both exploring new worlds and reflecting on our own experiences. And it's awesome that she's not afraid to take up a new hobby like golf - age is just a number, right? 
I'm definitely gonna have to check out her new book and learn from her experiences.
10 years of saying yes has taken her to so many incredible places and she's still learning and growing 
golf? who knew? but seriously, can't wait for her new book edition with those 7 new chapters 
. It just goes to show that embracing uncertainty can lead to some amazing experiences and connections. Shonda Rhimes is living proof that saying yes can change your life in the best way possible 
10 years ago Shonda Rhimes took a huge leap of faith by saying yes to new experiences & opportunities... now look at her 
and its cool how she's still learning new things like golf, lol who knew taking up a sport could bring fulfillment too? 
We'd drive for hours, sing along to our fave tunes, and just enjoy the freedom of it all. And you know what? It was actually super therapeutic for me 
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I mean, who wouldn't want to take a chance on a brand new project or try out a new hobby just for the sake of it? 
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), it's nice to know that I'm not alone in feeling stuck sometimes.
. Good for her, keep sayin' yes! 
. but what really gets me is when she talks about empathy being the driving force behind storytelling...that's something I think we can all learn from 
