Shonda Rhimes Shares Which Beloved TV Character She Believes Should Embrace a ‘Year of Yes’

Shonda Rhimes Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Year Of Yes on Oct. 23.
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Shonda Rhimes Reflects on the Importance of Saying "Yes"

Shonda Rhimes, acclaimed creator of hit television series like Grey’s Anatomy, Bridgerton, and How to Get Away with Murder, recently discussed the importance of embracing opportunities during a conversation with Robin Roberts at the 92NY event. This year marks the 10th anniversary of her memoir, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, in which she challenges herself to confront her introverted nature by saying "yes" to things that intimidate her.

During the event, Rhimes highlighted the character she feels could greatly benefit from this philosophy: Olivia Pope, portrayed by Kerry Washington in the series Scandal. “She lives by a lot of rules. She’s had a tough life,” Rhimes remarked. “I think she could really benefit from a ‘yes.’"

Rhimes’ memoir recounts the transformative journey she undertook in 2015, focusing on how she learned to face her fears and discomforts. Reflecting on her growth a decade later, she emphasized the value of initiating difficult conversations. “That one I’ve carried with me forever," she shared with Roberts. “I think because I was a person who ran from any kind of conflict. And when you run from conflict, basically you spend a whole bunch of time dealing with the results of the fact that you’ve not said the thing that needed to be said.”

She elaborated, “Now, 10 years later, … I say the hard thing first, as the first part of the sentence.” This approach extends to both her personal and professional life. “I say it, you know, whether it’s, ‘You can’t work here anymore,’ or, ‘This relationship’s not working,’ or ‘You’ve asked for too much too many times,’" Rhimes noted.

The anniversary provided Rhimes an opportunity to revisit her memoir. “Just like anybody else who hadn’t read the book in a long time, I sat down and I reread what I had written, and my heart went out to that person,” she reflected. “My heart went out to that woman who was so closed off and so shy.”

She observed a significant change in herself over the past decade, noting, “People say to me that I seem lighter and more just more comfortable in my own skin, I think. And maybe I’m having a lot more fun.”

Rhimes’ insights remind us of the power of rejection and acceptance in both personal growth and creative expression.