Kelly Epperson's Blog, page 20

“Happiness is Knowing it can get Better”

We named our company Joy Beyond Your Dreams intentionally. Not only can you be happy, life can be even better than you allow yourself to imagine. Yet, for most of us, we never let ourselves go there. We stay stuck in the same old-same old and do not let ourselves think it can be any different.

It breaks my heart when women think this is as good as it gets. It is equally tragic when a young girl does not allow herself to believe it can get better.

My son is a high school senior. This week, a girl at his school committed suicide. She was a sophomore. She didn’t believe it could get any better.

Everyone who hears stories like this is devastated. So young. So much ahead of her.

I wish every woman, every girl, lived from a deep place of secure inner knowing and had trust in herself. I wish everyone had self-love and self-confidence. That is what happiness really is.

Happiness is peace. A happy person knows self-love. Self worth.

A happy person can cut herself some slack, be it school girl pressures or grown up girl pressures. A happy person can get rid of the china cups that she doesn’t like, even if they were from Great Aunt Ruth. A happy person takes a little bit of time for her own self care and does not feel guilty. A happy person knows self care is not selfish, it is the ultimate act of compassion.

A happy person can say no. A happy person can lose that weight, get that job, and take that trip. A happy person can fall in love.

A happy person has learned to listen to her heart.

We can all learn how to get happier. We first have to decide that we are worth it. After that, the rest comes much easier.

Women sometimes tell me that they would love to take my Joy Beyond Your Dreams program, they say they want it and need it, yet they can’t bring themselves to spend money on themselves. The car needs tires. The house needs this. The husband needs that. The kids need everything. The dog needs that. Everyone and everything comes before their own well being.

I get that. I do. I have the people pleaser gene too. I also know that happiness habits can change our DNA. We are not destined to be anything we do not allow.

If you are stuck and stressed, you have to first decide that you no longer want to be stuck and stressed. The how-to stuff to increase happiness and confidence is actually pretty simple. First, you have to make up your mind that you want something more/better/different. You have to make up your mind that you are worth it.

You know I preach the joy journal – tracking every day the little things that brought you joy, made you smile, made you feel a tiny bit of appreciation. The other part of the joy journal is to write three things you like about you.

That is your joy assignment. In this culture we live in, we need to remind ourselves of our beauty and worth. Every day, jot three things you like about you. It can be physical traits, it can be personality traits. I like my green eyes. I like my decorating flair. I like how I handled that conversation with my colleague.

Please, take the time to learn to like yourself again. Put yourself in a place of honor in your own life.

If you cannot think of three things you like about you, find someone to talk to. Reach out to a trusted advisor or friend. Message me via email or Facebook. Call my toll free number.

Our souls came here to know joy. Believe that it can get better. If you are distraught, know that it will get better. Let yourself believe it. Happiness. Self-love. Trust. Believe it. Inner peace is what we all want. Start today.

“Happiness Starts with 3 People”

I was born a worrier, a fretter, a what iffer. I broke out in hives the night before I started first grade: What if I can’t learn to read?!

I learned how to read. And write. And do all kinds of things. The best thing I’ve learned took a long time though. I’ve finally learned to be happy.

It’s a learned behavior, and I teach it now, to women all over the country, everywhere. ANYONE can get happier, IF they choose.

Dang. Now you tell me.

Happiness is a state of being. As Emerson said, we are conditioning our circumstances, not the other way around. Happy first, improved circumstances second.

Happiness is also like building up immunity and resiliency to the stressors of life. I used to crumble. I used to be depressed. I used to be “normal” and looked at the negative.

My change started with three people: Me, myself, and I. I decided that I wanted to feel better, lighter, more at peace. Then I implemented practices and daily habits to get me in that groove.

Now it – happiness – is a state of being, and I’m the local joy fairy. Life is full of surprises.

The first practice I always teach is the joy journal, keeping track of gratitudes. You’ve heard me say it a million time because it’s true. Appreciation is the state of allowing happiness to flow to us.

Helping others is a happiness booster too. The Happiness Club is a double do-good. It’s my love gift to the community (giving back really does feel good!), and in teaching happiness how-to’s, I’m uplifted too as well as those who attend the meetings. We teach what we need to learn.

Our Happiness Club of Loves Park launched on April 1, 2010. We just celebrated two years with big cakes, one edible and one inflatable.

According to Lionel Ketchian of Fairfield, CT, the first person to create a Happiness Club, “Happiness is an inner state of well-being that enables you to profit from your highest thoughts, intelligence, wisdom, awareness, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values.”

Sounds good to me. Want some?

There are Happiness Clubs all over the nation and world. Our local group consists of a core of regulars and we have new people come each month. It’s not a “club” with a membership roster, dues, or commitments. No secret handshakes. It’s simply a gathering of people who want to live happier.

If you are interested in finding a Happiness Club in your area, or in starting one, go to www.happinessclub.com. If you live in northern Illinois, join me the first Thursday of every month at N. Suburban Library of Loves Park from 6:30 – 8pm. It’s free and open to everyone. Tips and techniques to increase your happiness. Plain and simple.

You will learn something, you will laugh, you will leave feeling lighter. We serve snacks too.

If you have questions, or want to learn more, contact me via email or toll free 888-637-3563.

Happiness is an inner state of well being. Some would say outrageous joy. I say it’s a quiet confidence. Liking me and liking my life. If you cannot look in the mirror and say you like yourself and you like your life, we need to talk. ANYONE can get happier, even a worry wart from the womb.

First you have to decide.

Are you ready?

Let me repeat. I was not born happy, and I’ve become a happy person. It’s a learned behavior, and I teach it now, to women all over the country, everywhere. ANYONE can get happier. Happy first, improved circumstances second. Maybe that makes sense to you, maybe it doesn’t. A lot of things in life don’t really make sense. What feels better? Feeling crappy and weighed down? Feeling lighter?

I choose feeling lighter.

Thank you to all who attend Happiness Club and for celebrating two years of joy spreading. Whowuddathunkit?! Life is full of surprises. Maybe you getting happy can be one of them.

Looking forward to hearing from YOU!

“You Are Meant to Shine”

The most important thing I’ve learned in life is that my choices are mine, and I cannot control anyone else’s choices. I’m challenged by that occasionally, as I want everyone to see that they don’t have to stay stuck in their rut.

I’m a happiness coach and yet I am not in charge of anyone’s happiness. That was quite an obstacle for me: I make people happy, dammit.

No, I don’t.

Now, I get it. I can offer what I know, what works for me, and I can let my light shine. In doing so, I help others. In doing so, it’s silent permission for them/you to do the same. In doing so, I cannot change anyone else. That is up to them.

All of life is a choice. Every day is a choice. Every minute is a choice. If I get stuck on a thought that makes me feel bad, I can stay there replaying it and replaying it, or I can muster up every ounce of strength and force myself to insert a new thought.

That’s what I teach in my joy programs, how to recognize when we go down that path and how to switch to a new path. How to build those internal confidence muscles.

For some, it clicks. Their awareness multiplies and life opens up. Joy!

Others think I’m nuts. There’s nothing I can do about that.

I’ve learned to be me. That means I don’t apologize for being happy. I don’t apologize that I found love again. I don’t apologize for growing my business.

I’m not any different or any better than anyone else. I’m the former unhappy IRS agent who divorced after twenty years who had to leave a grocery store one night with no food because the card rejected.

I get gray hairs and pimples. I get frustrated. I cry. I have unanswered questions.

And every day I wake up and I decide how I want to be. Who I want to be. Why I want to be.

I read stuff that inspires me. Today it’s the famous Marianne Williamson quote:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

–Marianne Williamson

I chose to let my light shine. I have played small and felt small. It is so much more fun to expand.

The light is in every one of us. Step into your light today, even if you just stick one toe in it. How’s it feel?

Don’t fear your light.

I want to shake my magic wand at you and poof make the fear be gone! For some, it falls away quickly. For some, it’s a longer process. For all, it’s possible.

Stop putting yourself down, holding yourself back. Ease into it. Let your light start to flicker. Turn up the knob. A little more every day. Let your light shine. Be you, your way.

I am not blinded by your light. I am awash in it. I feel the glow, the energy, and it shines the light on my path and takes me farther than I thought I could go. I thank you. Thank you for shining your light on me. Keep shining. Keep shining.

The world needs people who have come alive

Written by Kelly Epperson

Do you have a favorite song? A favorite singer? A favorite book? A favorite author? A favorite movie? A favorite actor/actress?

I cannot pick one favorite in any category. Different songs, singers, books, authors, movies, actors/actresses move me differently at different times.

Perhaps I could pick my top ten, yet that would even change depending on my mood. When I'm mellow, I want Little River Band. When I'm mocking melodrama, I want Meatloaf. When I'm feeling my oats I want Billy Idol or Pink.

On any given day, I could bounce between Prince and the Partridge Family and be equally enthralled with what they give me. Sometimes I want big band and sometimes I want a little country.

That's the beauty of life. That's the beauty of expressing of who we are. We all have our unique gifts to offer the world. The world needs more than one singer. The world needs more than one writer. The world needs more than one actor.

One of my favorite quotes (I have many favorite quotes too of course; can't pick just one) is from Howard Thurman: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

I could have hung back and not submitted my writing to any editors. There are a million writers in the world. Does the world really need another writer?

Yes.

Writing makes me come alive. Since I have come alive via writing, my world has opened beyond anything I could have imagined. My career has evolved into speaking and now life coaching. My life really is joy beyond my dreams, the name of my company.

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what you need. That is the path to follow. It will lead you to your joy beyond your dreams.

The world needs people who have come alive. In that igniting of your own spark, you also knowingly and unknowingly light the spark in others.

The act of coming alive by following your bliss, pursuing your passion, creates a chain of inspiration.

Through example and mentoring, I now see people come alive in their areas of interest, be it writing, acting, singing, painting, starting businesses, going back to school, etc.

What makes you come alive?

Are you holding back, telling yourself we already have a glut of dentists, doctors, lawyers, sculptors, teachers, scientists, artists, performers, writers, comedians, etc?

Think of your favorite in any category. Aren't you glad they followed their heart and took the chance to become what they are now – your favorite? If that person would have talked himself/herself out of it, your life would be missing that dab of inspiration they give you.

The favorite does not have to be famous. We have favorite teachers, favorites in any profession or trade, folks who love what they do, be it plumbing, landscape design, or cooking. They don't do it for the accolades. They do what they love because they love it.

The more we see people who are joyous in their work, it lights us up. The ripple effect is powerful.

The world needs people who have come alive. What makes you feel alive?

“Get Out of Jail Free Card”

A college friend recently asked me to send a little joy his way. He’d been in a horrible accident. Sitting stopped at a red light on his motorcycle, he was mowed down by a drunk driver going 60.

Once you get past the miracle of making it through such an accident, you have to deal with the nitty gritty of getting back to living. As I write, he’s still in a rehab facility. He’ll get to go home soon, yet the long road of recovery is many months.

We all experience the “emotional roller coaster” sometime throughout our lives, yet some experience it with such gravity-defying heights and sudden twisting stomach-turning drops that would leave me panting and puking.

I’ve never had a near death experience. Don’t really want to. I’ve met people who have. They say it’s a gift.

They liken it to a “get out of jail free” card. A hall pass to let go of all the shoulds, duties, and expectations. We get so hung up living life to please others or get stuck in the rut of living life on auto pilot. An illness or an accident can be a wake up call and hand you a free pass to live life head on.

If you want to quit your job and do something else, do it. If you want to travel to exotic locations, do it. If you want to run for political office, do it. If you want to grow a beard and a ponytail, do it. If you want to take ballet lessons, do it.

I imagine that if one is lying in a rehab bed, the barrage of thoughts that run through the head would include “What do I want to do now with the rest of my life?”

People who have come out on the other side of illness or accidents often have a deeper peace. They start listening to that inner voice deep inside. All the years of playing roles and getting wrapped up in what society/our peers/our family thinks can be released.

The biggest freedom comes when we stop caring what other people think. When you face death head on, what others think of you is not a top priority in your mind.

People who have gone through it may start conversations with “After the accident, I really started living.” “After the illness, I really knew what mattered to me.” “After I went through rehab, I decided I wanted to….”

Guess what?

Most of us don’t get that opportunity handed to us. Most of us don’t face illness or accident. You don’t need to go through something like that to start living from your inner voice, your IV. You can choose right here, right now, to live like you want to.

Really, what are you waiting for? Do you need to get sick or get in an awful accident before you start paying attention to you and what your heart is telling you?

The way to approach life for maximum enjoyment is to live from a place of gratitude. Be grateful for everything you have now. Start and end each day with appreciation. I knew my friend was okay, and going to be okay, when his first email started out with a humorous approach to explaining he was in an accident. Today he’s grateful for the return of normal bodily functions.

A sense of humor, even in the darkest moments, helps healing. A sense of gratitude, even in the darkest hour, helps growth.

I don’t wish accidents or illness on anyone. I don’t wish anyone to go on robot-like, living life with the blinders on either.

Every day, we all have a choice. How are we going to live? What are you waiting for? I hereby give you permission to live life your way. Here is your hall pass. You are free from others’ expectations. It’s between you and you. Put your hand on your heart and ask: What sounds good?

"Get Out of Jail Free Card"

A college friend recently asked me to send a little joy his way. He'd been in a horrible accident. Sitting stopped at a red light on his motorcycle, he was mowed down by a drunk driver going 60.

Once you get past the miracle of making it through such an accident, you have to deal with the nitty gritty of getting back to living. As I write, he's still in a rehab facility. He'll get to go home soon, yet the long road of recovery is many months.

We all experience the "emotional roller coaster" sometime throughout our lives, yet some experience it with such gravity-defying heights and sudden twisting stomach-turning drops that would leave me panting and puking.

I've never had a near death experience. Don't really want to. I've met people who have. They say it's a gift.

They liken it to a "get out of jail free" card. A hall pass to let go of all the shoulds, duties, and expectations. We get so hung up living life to please others or get stuck in the rut of living life on auto pilot. An illness or an accident can be a wake up call and hand you a free pass to live life head on.

If you want to quit your job and do something else, do it. If you want to travel to exotic locations, do it. If you want to run for political office, do it. If you want to grow a beard and a ponytail, do it. If you want to take ballet lessons, do it.

I imagine that if one is lying in a rehab bed, the barrage of thoughts that run through the head would include "What do I want to do now with the rest of my life?"

People who have come out on the other side of illness or accidents often have a deeper peace. They start listening to that inner voice deep inside. All the years of playing roles and getting wrapped up in what society/our peers/our family thinks can be released.

The biggest freedom comes when we stop caring what other people think. When you face death head on, what others think of you is not a top priority in your mind.

People who have gone through it may start conversations with "After the accident, I really started living." "After the illness, I really knew what mattered to me." "After I went through rehab, I decided I wanted to…."

Guess what?

Most of us don't get that opportunity handed to us. Most of us don't face illness or accident. You don't need to go through something like that to start living from your inner voice, your IV. You can choose right here, right now, to live like you want to.

Really, what are you waiting for? Do you need to get sick or get in an awful accident before you start paying attention to you and what your heart is telling you?

The way to approach life for maximum enjoyment is to live from a place of gratitude. Be grateful for everything you have now. Start and end each day with appreciation. I knew my friend was okay, and going to be okay, when his first email started out with a humorous approach to explaining he was in an accident. Today he's grateful for the return of normal bodily functions.

A sense of humor, even in the darkest moments, helps healing. A sense of gratitude, even in the darkest hour, helps growth.

I don't wish accidents or illness on anyone. I don't wish anyone to go on robot-like, living life with the blinders on either.

Every day, we all have a choice. How are we going to live? What are you waiting for? I hereby give you permission to live life your way. Here is your hall pass. You are free from others' expectations. It's between you and you. Put your hand on your heart and ask: What sounds good?

What is the color of joy?

Written by Kelly Epperson

As I step into a more vibrant life, I like more colorful surroundings. Not BAM in your face gotta-get-your-attention color, just expressions of some lively fun.

I never thought I'd have red furniture. I love it. I eat my breakfast every day on the red loveseat in the sunroom. I look out at the trees, watch the squirrels, and feel peace.

Red Couch Conversations in front of the fireplace warm my heart. The walls are a soft lavender, called Elation. It's what I feel in this house, this life.

My friend Artist Angie painted words all around our kitchen. My heart is happy every time I look at them. This is my fairy tale, I'm writing it, and I want words, colors, and images surrounding me that keep me in that flow. She just painted a castle on a hill in our bedroom.

As we contemplated color choices for the home office, I googled "color of joy." Orange. Indigo. Lots of rainbows.

I wanted a combination of soothing color to keep me clear and relaxed, and a vibe of creative energy to keep my juices going.

My last home office at the condo was a neutral tan. In realtor standards, fine. To me, it was the color of a drab bandage. Ugh. We painted it Poetic Light and threw glitter on one wall. Ahhh.

This home office at our current abode came with white walls. Fine for a hospital or a chef's kitchen, but I crave more pizzazz. My teenage girl bedroom was hot pink. Many great thoughts came to me in that room.

Color affects us. Color psychology says pink is sweet and romantic, less "violent" than red. Pink is associated with girls and femininity. Pink is symbolic of pure love. Pink represents tranquility.

Pink is generally associated with positive images, and innocence, like bubble gum and cotton candy. We are in the pink when we are healthy. We are tickled pink when we are delighted.

There are many shades of pink. I read on one website that pink is a good color for a creative office. Pink is insightful and intuitive. It is the passion and power of red softened with the purity, openness and completeness of white.

Writers can wax poetic on any color. Ultimately the choice is what feels right for me. We went with Free Spirit and Dahlia, shades of pinks and purples.

What feels right for you? What colors do you use in your favorite spaces? What feelings does your space exude?

When you are in your kitchen, how does it feel? How about your bedroom? Does it feel welcoming and relaxing? The living room?

Try inserting a few touches of color here and there to see if you feel any differently. A splash of color can ease you into changing the color scheme. Sometimes a splash of color is all you need.

What is the color of joy? That is totally up to you. Your space, your joy. And it's only paint. It can change with you as your tastes change. EnJOY!

 

How Happiness Grows Your Business

I'm presenting at eWomen Network in Geneva, IL on April 18. You can attend without being a member at member rate as my guest. Contact Beth directly to sign up.

eWomenNetwork "Accelerated Networking" Event

Wednesday, April 18 at Villa Verone, Geneva, IL

How Happiness Grows Your Business

Former IRS Agent, Kelly Epperson, is now an author, speaker, and happiness coach. She teaches that Anything is Possible for you too. Research proves that happier people enjoy better health, better relationships, and better income (how does $1 million more grab you?!). We know money does not buy happiness, but living happy can lead to more money! And more peace of mind, more optimism, more fun, more joy…. Happy brings More! Kelly's uplifting programs teach HOW TO "A.R.I.S.E":

Learn how to:

Attract More Clients

Reduce Daily Stress

Increase Your Energy

See Your Income Grow

Enjoy Life Fully

Kelly Epperson Kelly Epperson, a former IRS agent now an agent of joy, is the author of When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes and 365 Days of Joy – How to be Happy Every Single Day, plus she has ghostwritten many books for others, including a New York Times best-seller that has sold over 3 million copies.Kelly has been writing her weekly newspaper column since May 2001. Her popular "Live Your Joy" ezine is sent every Friday to her followers all across the country and world.Founder of the Happiness Club of Loves Park, Kelly presents keynotes, programs, and workshops on humor and happiness to a wide variety of corporate, private, and philanthropic groups. She speaks at many conferences and events including AATH Association for Applied & Therapeutic Humor national conference

Facilitated by

Beth Fudala

eWomenNetwork

Managing Director

for Chicago – Northwest Suburbs

Date Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Time 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Doors open and informal networking begins at 11:00 AM)

Location Villa Verone

416 Hamilton Street

Geneva, IL 60134

Register by phone by calling 773-865-9100.

Email contact: bethfudala@eWomenNetwork.com

How Happiness Changes Your DNA!

Have you noticed how some people live their lives in "cancer prevention" mode? They attempt to eat well, exercise, and do certain things with the mindset of warding off cancer. It's like they assume it's out there waiting to pounce and they must kept it at bay.

Why not eat healthy, get proper rest, and exercise because it makes you feel better? Why not operate from a place of feeling good instead of living in fear?

Instead of trying to avoid something, like cancer, how about we approach something, like a fun, fulfilling life?

You can do "good" things, yet if your thoughts are dwelling on the "wrong" reason, you still are living from a place of fear. Consider the statements: "I'm going to eat broccoli and run three miles a day so I don't get cancer" versus "I'm going to improve my diet and do a bit of exercise so I feel better, have more energy, and enjoy life."

What feels better?

Imagine going to a doctor who says, "Take these supplements. It will help your energy level and you'll feel great." You leave feeling great. If she says, "Take these supplements. It will help your energy level and studies show they prevent cancer." You leave her office thinking you better take the supplements or you'll get cancer. Every day you take a pill and you think about cancer. Wouldn't you rather take a vitamin every morning and think about well-being instead?

You choose.

You get to choose how you live your life and who you allow in it. I only choose doctors who are pro-health, not anti-disease. Focus on good health, get more of it. Focus on disease, get more disease.

For those people who carry the mindset that they are predestined to a disease because it's in their genes, that thought can evaporate now too. The science of epigenetics proves that we can change our DNA.

Epigenetics, or Lifestyle Medicine as the specialty is called, is now being taught in medical school and is poised to become the primary care method, as opposed to our current system of prescribing a medication to combat whatever symptoms. Getting to the root cause of the symptom, and working with the patient to make lifestyle change is the focus.

Dr. Bruce Lipton states: "You are in control of your genes… and are changing them often – daily and perhaps even hourly – based on the foods you eat, the air you breathe, and the thoughts you think."

You do have power over your own life. In every way! What you do, how you treat your body, and what you think are the controlling factors of your well being.

Dr. David Rakel states: "Epigenetics means 'around the gene' or if you will, the soup in which we bathe our genes is determined by human choice. We are the cooks of our soup that influences if our genes are healthy or diseased. Even if your family has a history of cancer, there are things you can do to bathe that gene in a way to keep it from expressing itself. This means your genes may produce healthy tissue instead of tissue that is diseased."

His statements continue: "We have a choice to bathe our genes with joy, happiness, exercise, and nutritious foods, or we can bathe them with anger, lack of hope, junk food and sedentary lifestyle…. I can make positive lifestyle choices that can keep a gene from being expressed as a disease."

Human attitude has a tremendous influence on health. It can be so simple and now science is proving it. (I'll spare the intricate scientific details of DNA and genes; it's basically like each gene has an on/off switch.)

Be encouraged! No matter where you are at now, you literally can change yourself and your future. The body you were born with, the happiness set point you were born with, the genetic makeup you were born with, they are not your destiny.

Simply changing your focus is a great start. That joy journal is not just fluff. By focusing on appreciation you are changing your brain, which creates positive emotion, which sends different chemicals throughout your body. Eat something good for you. Take a walk. These basic things affect you truly, madly, deeply.

The little on/off switches in your genes can go your way. When you start to think that every cell in your body can be happy and healthy, that really can be true. I don't know about you, but that brings me joy!

You really do hold the reins of your happiness and your life! (So put that in your pipe and smoke it!;)

Spring in the closet?

Written by Kelly Epperson

I just read a lively article about spring, gardening, and bright colors. The author wrote in poetic prose her love of the surprise of brilliant hues that appear as spring shakes off winter, sometimes seemingly overnight.

The writer concluded her ode to spring by stating she was donning her brightest clothes and was off to the market. Her story, the sunshine today, and our warm-for-this-time-of-year temps, infected me with a bit of spring fever.

I walked around my property (the word "property" sounds more impressive than "yard") and wondered what surprises await me. This will be the first spring in our home in the woods, and I'm not sure what will bloom or where.

As much as I love the mystery of trees, I also want a bit of splashy color throughout the grounds.

I decided to don some bright colors and go off to the market too. ("Market" sounds more fun than "grocery store.")

My closet laughed at me. The majority of my wardrobe is black. Black is slimming. Black is stylish. Black is always in fashion. Black is …… black.

As much I adore my clothes, I wanted something bright today. It was slim pickings. My sweater selection is many types of various blacks, two whites, and one pink. I have a few colorful tops but they were too thin for today.

The garden of my closet was definitely lacking in brilliant hues. If the author of that spring garden article were to write about my closet, she would insinuate that either I was in mourning or I thought I was living in Paris.

Black may be a wardrobe staple, but it's time to liven things up a bit. When I survey the colorful clothing that I do own, I realize it was purchased during these recent years when I started "coming alive."

No matter what my age may be, I am in the springtime of my life. I have been surprised by the brilliant hues of love, light, and energy that fill my life now. What the heck, my clothes may as well reflect it. If I feel lighter, I can wear sunnier colors.

Now I understand why some women started the red hat society. We reach a point in life when it simply is fun and feels good to wear vibrant stuff.

What's going on in your closet? Have you taken inventory lately? Do you just throw on the same old stuff every week without really thinking about it? When is the last time you put on an outfit and thought to yourself, "I love this"?

In my Joy Beyond Your Dreams life mastery program, one of the assignments is to let go of clothes that no longer fit. I realize now that I do not just mean size. Some clothes no longer fit our personality.

As I continually weed out my closet and get rid of the old, I will replace with tops that feel fresh, lively, and springy. Color. Personality. Verve. Budding. Awakening. Growing.

What about you? Ready to try on some color?

Spring, and life, is indeed a surprise of brilliant hues.