You would think that a woman with three hit shows on television and other projects in the works would be a huge risk-taker. But two years ago, that’s not how Shonda Rhimes’ sister Delorse described her. In fact, around Christmas time in 2013, she scolded her sister for turning down too many opportunities.
No one can check you like your sister. Shonda took heed. She told the Darmouth Alumni Magazine, “So my New Year’s resolution was to say yes to the things that scare me.” Those things included a commencement speech for her alma mater, Darmouth’s 2014 class, a TED talk this past March and appearance on Mindy Kaling’s show, “The Mindy Project.”
Rhimes was a fan before she had been extended the offer.
“I watch that religiously, because it’s just funny.”
Kaling asked her to play Darmouth’s alumni beer pong champ on the show and Rhimes agreed…only because it fell within the year of yeses.
The alumni magazine writes that: “When it came time to deliver her lines, however, she was “suddenly paralyzed.” For the first time, she says, “I was on the other side of the camera and realized I had no clue what I was doing. (Nonsense, Kaling insists. “She has the best timing. I would have her on every week if I could.”)
Rhimes was also given the opportunity to write a memoir for Simon & Schuster. And with the dare in mind, she agreed.
“I had no choice- what else could I say but yes?” The book will detail the lessons she learned during her Year of Yes but will also, according to DAM, focus on single motherhood.
“Going through the adoption process with Harper and Emerson, and having Beckett with the help of a surrogate, Rhimes is asked often how to navigate the nontraditional route of parenthood. “I’ve basically been shepherding all these women I know on how you become a single mother,” she says. “So much so that somebody gave me business cards that say ‘Adoption Doula.’ I thought that was really cute.”
