For me 2016 started off as the Year of Yes!. I bought Shonda Rhimes book, settled in on the first day of the year and read the book from cover to cover. I saw a lot of similarities between myself and Shonda Rhimes and found myself in a place where no had become the norm in my life. Because of, well many reasons, no was my place of comfort, my big fluffy blanket, my safe zone. If I could say no, that removed the responsibility, the obligation and the possible disappointment, frustration and/or hurt. But then this Year of Yes thing came along.

So what did the Year of Yes r 2016, teach me? Just a few things.
1. A closed mouth does not get fed. You need to be open and vocal about what you want and/or what you need. Make your requests known. Let people know that you are in the room and that you exist. If there is something on your mind or in your heart say it. Do not allow life or opportunities pass you by simply because you didn’t speak up.
2. Yes can become your New Normal. Yes can push your boundaries, however you are still in control and can ultimately redraw those boundaries. Think of it as life gentrification. Adjusting the boundaries of your life to fit the person that you are growing into. Actually, this will be necessary as you open yourself up to things and experiences you may have previously shied away from.
3. Don’t let the growing stop on December 31. Carry what you have learned into the next year and keep improving on yourself and keep and keep making your life better. Do not become stagnant after you just opened yourself up to all of these amazing opportunities. Keep growing and keep thriving.
2016, as any year had its ups and downs. There were some personal setbacks and there were also some personal gains. The year ended on a very high note for me (more about that later). I learned a lot, I experienced a lot and I changed a lot. Change is an inside job and 2016 was a perfect example of that. As I worked on my Year o Yes, I learned that most importantly, I needed to say yes to myself and to what I needed and what I desired and I learned in 2016 how to do that without feeling guilty or fearing judgment.
So 2016, thank you for the lessons learned. Thank you for the friendship and relationships that developed, thank you for allowing me the freedom and the opportunity to be authentically me and to be free to soar. Thank you for removing the Spirit of Stuck and allowing me to run and to walk when and to crawl when I needed to. Thank you 2016 for showing me that the only thing that can stop me is Me. 2017, I have been expecting you and I cannot wait to see what you have in store for me.
Be Blessed! Be Fabulous!