A little personal background (not necessary to read to get the content below): Back in 2017 I had decided that 2018 was going to be a "Year of Yes" (title inspired by Shonda Rhymes--creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal). Out of necessity rather than desire, I've had to make some bold and uncomfortable moves in 2017 and I told myself that 2018 had to be different.. It HAD to for my own sanity..I didn't want to be a spectator in my own life and wanted to be an active agent... So...that year consisted of saying yes to all sorts of things--yes to doing deep work (thank you Bible/God, thank you Brene Brown, thank you other books and friends), yes to things that scared me (e.g. speaking at a seminar, doing a radio show, running a self esteem workshop, doing activities solo, saying 'no' to things that didn't fit what I actually needed), saying yes to different connections ( @LaTanya Carter -I appreciate you more than you'll ever know!!!) . I stumbled A LOT and fell often, but I also became more confident, more independent, more conscientious of boundaries, more of myself. As a result of 2018, 2019 became my 'resurrection' year or my 'phoenix' year. Rising from the ashes. (Funny that it coincided with my 33rd year in life-maybe that's why I called it the resurrection year). So....as I'm reflecting on this past year and coming up into the next, I figured it's time...It's time for another "Year of Yes". I think it's been brewing. ______________BEGIN THE REAL POST________________________________ *Please watch the video if you have th time. :) :) People hear the phrase a "Year of Yes" and automatically think that it means impulsive decisions, saying yes to a bunch of new activities, being busy with all sorts of things, "bucket list"...But the reality is that it's more like..exposure therapy for the soul. It's breaking up with things that hold you back from living an aligned life. It's saying no to things like unhelpful fear, perfectionism, people pleasing, overthinking, self-doubt and the "maybe later" type language.

💗There are so many great challenges out there and I didn't want to add another one to the list...BUT, in the spirit of this month of thanksgiving, I did want to gift someone something at the end of the month...I want to show appreciation to ALL of you, but given practical considerations, I just don't know if a gift is possible for all. So, I was trying to think about what would be a good way to try to go about this.... 🌟Well, how about this? In the spirit of this group and what it's about, WHAT IF we use your own goals and habits that you want to build upon as the deciding factor for winning? Not only will you get something from me but you'll be gaining momentum towards your goals and that IS winning beyond an external reward. We can use this as a way to add additional incentive to keep going and to make strides towards your goals!! And also as a place of accountability:) If there are A LOT of winners, maybe a secondary way of teasing out top winners can be something related to participation /level of activity or maybe just a random choosing. I already appreciate the activity in here and while I want to incentivise more people to participate I don't want the gift to just be dependent on that---I truly want you all to do well towards your goals!! 📈So....what say you? If you're interested, drop a comment below saying that you're in AND also identifying what you'll be working on for the rest of the month---what are the habits that you want to start/grow/continue? What will have to happen at the end of the month to say "I've made acceptable progress" towards this goal? (some areas of potential focus: physical health: diet, exercise, drinking water; spiritual health: daily prayer, gratitude practice; financial health: saving money, spending less; etc.) Let's do this!! Let's have a place to keep each other accountable, encourage each other and just take strides towards growth!! We got this, fam! :) :) :)

That you’re beautiful (or handsome, whichever word you prefer!), your DREAMS matter, and you are worthy of having unlimited JOY in your life!

Want to be free of old hurts? Give. forgiveness a try. Maybe you're not quite at that point, but maybe, just maybe, it's worth leaning into...just a little bit? You owe it to yourself and it is an act of self respect... Forgiveness gets talked about like it is some soft, floaty abtract idea, but psychologically it is a form of emotional agency..Freedom.. At its core, forgiveness is the process of releasing the emotional charge around a hurt so it stops taking up space in your mind and body. It does not mean forgetting, excusing or reconciling and it is not a free pass for bad behavior. Let's look at those statements again..."Forgiveness DOES NOT mean forgetting, excusing, or reconciling. It is NOT a free pass for bad behavior." Sometimes we worry that that's what forgiveness will do--that it will leave us vulnerable/open to being hurt again. That somehow acceptance of what has happened means that it they get a free pass... It is NOT that. A lil friendly reminder: forgiveness is for the person who carries the wound/hurt, not the one who created it (though, it can absolutely carry a ripple effect for the person that has done the offense and this can be kind of cool too!). You are the one living with the stress response, the rumination and the emotional hangover. Letting go is about clearing your nervous system and taking back energy that has been stuck in a ruminative cycle. It's living more empowered rather than enslaved to an emotion... I'll say it again--freedom. What Forgiveness Does for You 1. Reduces emotional load: Anger, resentment and rumination activate the stress system as if the wound is still happening. Forgiveness helps settle the nervous system and brings mental clarity. That's kinda cool, eh? 2. Restores agency: By choosing to forgive, you stop waiting for the other person to repair what they broke. You get to regain control of your narrative and your emotional energy. Don't fool yourself, emotional energy absolutely carries weight and can get heaaavy.

I’m so grateful to be part of this inspiring community. @Georgiana D has actually been one of the first people I connected with when I joined Skool and I didn’t hesitate for even one second to join Inspired Life, Empowered Being. The compassion and authenticity shared here align beautifully with what we do at DAfree, where awareness and prevention go hand in hand with inspiring life and empowerment. I’d love to share a small tool we’ve recently introduced: the DAfree Red FlagChecker. It’s a simple, anonymous feature on our website that helps people recognise early warning signs of coercive control or unhealthy behaviours in relationships, friendships, or even workplace dynamics. You can type any situation or concern, and the checker provides a short, supportive response, helping you reflect on whether what you’re experiencing might be a red flag or simply a moment for open communication. The goal isn’t to judge: it’s to empower through awareness. Because understanding the difference between care and control is one of the most powerful steps we can take toward healing, safety, and self-respect. 💙 If you’d like to try it out, you can find it here:👉 https://dafree.org/red-flag-checker Thank you again, Georgiana, and to everyone here, for holding space for growth, self-discovery, and meaningful connection. 🫶