I have decided that 2026 will be my year of YES.

I’m choosing to say YES to experiences that bring me joy, spark my sense of adventure, and challenge me in new ways.

Some people are naturally inclined to say YES; others default to NO, focusing on everything that could go wrong. I have lived somewhere in between. In the past, I often said YES to please others––to be seen as a team player or to avoid disappointing someone––rather than because I genuinely wanted to.

That changes this year.

My new YES is intentional. I will say YES only when I can commit fully, when it aligns with my values, and when it offers room for growth. That doesn’t mean doubts won’t arise. Concerns about time, money, logistics, or comfort—the usual reasons to say NO—will still exist. The difference is that I intend to say YES despite these reservations.

At the end of last year, I was invited to visit friends in Switzerland and attend the Winter Olympic Games in nearby Italy. While the opportunity sounded exciting, my mind quickly filled with objections: a long red-eye flight, high costs, cold weather (which I dreaded), and worries about who would watch the dog. I had a solid case for NO.

I mentioned the idea to my friend Jamie, a true YES person, to see if she might be interested in traveling with me. After about 30 seconds, she said, “I’m in.” Two days later—while I was still weighing pros and cons—Jamie had already booked her flights. With that gentle push, I committed to my first big YES of 2026. It felt exhilarating.

The word YES carries a certain magic. We often say NO because we fear failure, uncertainty, or discomfort. By doing so, we close ourselves off from spontaneous opportunities that could change our lives for the better. When something sparks excitement or awakens a quiet longing, it’s often our intuition nudging us forward. Doubts may linger, but they shouldn’t drown out that inner signal. A true NO is usually clear and immediate. When we waver, it’s often because something inside us is saying YES. We need to listen to that inner cheerleader, because it is usually right.

Opportunity rarely waits for perfect timing, because perfect timing does not exist. As Richard Branson famously said: “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes. Then learn how to do it later.” The universe often makes sense only in hindsight… When we say NO, we don’t just decline the opportunity—we decline the joy, the lessons, and the possibilities that might follow. When we say YES, we do more, create more, and live more.

So instead of wondering: “What’s the worst that could happen?” I’m choosing to imagine: “What’s the best that could happen?”

In 2026, I plan to say YES often—and I can’t wait to see where it leads.