book review
Shonda Rhimes ' Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, is an Entertaining and Light-Hearted Take on Self-Help
by Margaret " Max " Ruthenberg-Marshall The Ruthenberg-Marshall Law Firm, L. L. C. max @ ruthmarlaw. com
As the creator of hit television shows Grey’ s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal, and the executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder, Shonda Rhimes is one of the last people you would expect to be afraid of her own success and happiness. On the surface, Rhimes seems to have achieved the ever-elusive standard of“ having it all” which professional women are expected to chase. At the start of her book, Rhimes explains that she has four TV shows airing Thursday nights on ABC, three beautiful children, and a loving and supportive extended family who help keep her grounded. But it is not until Rhimes’ sister points out that she never says“ yes” to anything, that Rhimes realizes that despite her success on paper, she is actually miserable. Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person chronicles
Rhimes’ journey of self-discovery after she resolves that for one year, she will say“ yes” to everything that scares her.
Shonda Rhimes characterizes herself as an extreme introvert. She writes that as a child, despite having five siblings, she played in the kitchen pantry by herself, using food cans as stand-ins for the imaginary characters in her games. As an adult, Rhimes shares that she continued to hide behind the characters in the stories and shows she created. Rhimes admits that despite her fame, she detests public appearances, even going so far as to hire a publicist so she could avoid such events. One week after making her Year of Yes pledge, Dartmouth College, Rhimes’ alma mater, invites her to give its commencement speech. She is terrified, but agrees, kicking off a year of major transformation.
The book follows Shonda Rhimes through her adventures in yes, from her appearance on the late-night television program Jimmy Kimmel LIVE to guest starring on scripted comedy TV show The Mindy Project. Although the Dartmouth College speech is Rhimes’ first official“ yes,” she does not actually have to face this challenge until several months later. During the commencement speech, Rhimes describes a visible moment – even encouraging readers to check the video – of when she steps to the school podium, exhales all her fear, and becomes a new person.( For those interested in Rhimes’ commencement speech, the full text is included in the book).
Rhimes further describes this internal transformation by comparing her four interviews with Oprah Winfrey. Rhimes writes that she is a strong admirer of Oprah, calling herself a member of The Church of Oprah. Initially, during her three interviews with Oprah prior to the Year of Yes, Rhimes comments that she was so nervous she essentially blacked out and cannot remember a single detail of the interviews. However, during a fourth interview after the Year of Yes, Rhimes writes that she was able to be fully present, fearless, and actually enjoy her time with Oprah.
32 February 2017