The Year of Yes

The Yes Report: January

I kicked off this Year of Yes with a Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day. It was incredible. Amazing. I do not exaggerate when I say that it was a major turning point for me emotionally. I still don’t know how I can top that moment.

I’ve come close, though. Two weeks later, I took part in the No Pants Subway Ride.

Then, there was the roadtrip to New York City and Philadelphia with Ivan. It was three days of pure awesome.

I followed this up with getting a tattoo. It came together quickly and beautifully, and I am grateful for having a talented tattoo artist in my family.

Finally, there was the completely spontaneous trip to Foxwoods with Grace.

This journey that you’ve been taking with me, Dear Reader, is not just a series of stunts. There have been so many little Yes-es. Things that can’t be captured in photos or videos. Things like striving to be radically transparent to myself and others, being comfortable with who I am and where I’m at in my life, as well as taking responsibility for my emotions and truly caring for myself.

I’m also learning to say Yes to patience, something I’ve struggled to be comfortable with my entire life. To be able say, “What I want will come to me in time. And it may not come in the way I expect. But I remain open to the possibilities.” Well, I think that’s the most courageous Yes of all.

Coming up in February:

• Well, this newly-single girl refuses to spend Valentine’s Day crying into her beer. The current plan is to hit the Open Comedy Jam at Improv Boston. I will declare this outing a success if I can manage to get up on stage and make a right fool of myself.
• I’ll be hosting a party! Can’t remember the last time I’ve done this on my own. Maybe high school? Gah. Anyway, I really hope it’s not lame.
• By golly, I WILL make it past the first round of the Highland Kitchen Spelling Bee if it kills me. Got knocked out with “puerile” on my first attempt a few weeks ago.
• I know I said I had a fear of heights, but how awesome does High-Flying Trapeze sound? I mean, I’ll be harnessed. There’s a net. That’s not scary. Right? RIGHT? This was one of the many Suggest-A-Yes responses, provided by the ever-awesome Grace. Yeah, that will be a big one.