Color Outside The Lines.

I had a dream once. 

As I stood in the middle of a vacant street surrounded by Balinese rice fields, I looked back at the journey I’d just walked. Everything was black and white. I turned to look ahead at where I was going and saw bright, vivd colors. Behind me, black and white. Ahead, color. 

The particular dream occurred on my first trip to Bali and I remember waking with such clarity, and at the same time so many questions.

The metaphor was not lost on me.

The journey I’d walked - marriage, friendships, the corporate grind - black and white. Void of color. Numb.

Many people numb out with drugs, sex or alcohol. While I had my fair share of sex and alcohol, my drug of choice was work. I threw myself into the daily grind with something to prove. To whom? I wasn’t sure. But I worked my tail off. 

But the road that awaited me - colorful. Vibrant. Full of life.

Last night, I was sifting through images of The Collective, a coworking business I purchased in January 2020. When I purchased it, it was white. Clean. Crisp. 

However, once I got my hands on it, I slowly added dashes of color here and there, leaving my mark not only on the physical space but the community as well. Members and guests frequently use the terms “warm” and “welcoming” to describe the feeling they get when entering our space.

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Then I began to look back at my old branding photos for my coaching practice. At first, white. Even my quotes on IG were black and white. Occasionally you’d see a splash of color here or there.

Now, I add in color. Laughter. Life. Not just into my branding photos, but into my brand itself. The way I coach is reflective of my journey and the life I’ve chosen for myself. Full of life, joy, and peace.

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It’s more than color. More than a feeling. It’s life-giving experiences that I desire for my clients. My members. My friends.

How I choose to show up for this world directly effects what shows up for me. 

Black + white. Shades of gray. Hustle with no heart. Numbness. I’ve been there done that.

Instead, I choose to do life differently, like coloring outside the lines. I choose joy. I choose color. I choose love and light and clarity. I choose laughter + lemonade. I choose playing Clue on a Friday night with my niece. I choose tears of both sadness + joy. Hustle with heart. Naps on a Sunday. And coffee on a patio with friends. 

Color. I choose lots and lots of color.