As a woman, I was taught to take care of the needs of others, to say yes to things that felt like no, to distrust my intuitive sense of the right direction, and instead fill my plate with responsibilities, not passions. In other words, I was given an out-dated map to guide me through life.

It didn’t work out so well for me.

I am done doing that.

I have cleared my plate and cleared my throat; I feel a stinging sense of rightness, of joy, rising up from the root of my life.

There’s no time left to do anything that doesn’t make my whole life say yes. … More Yes. Hell, Yes.