Living in the Red

I adore the "perfect shade of Red".   Yes, I know, hard to believe as you move around my blog, right?  Red in and on everything, makes me feel full of joy inside and sends goosebumps down my spine on the outside.   Red handbags, red toenail polish, red plates, red cups, red blankets, red lampshades...oh its all so delicious that even as I write this, I can hardly contain myself!

But I didn't always feel this way.  In fact, I was color-less for far too many years of my life.    Yes, truly.   I would walk into another person's space, of someone who shared their own love stories with all sorts of bright defiant colors and I would admire these colorful people thoughtfully.  Still, I remained without a color that spoke my name.  So I stayed color-less, for years.

One day, as I was in the heat of working my way out of a very painful divorce, I thought to myself, if I make it through this...I will do something BOLD.   I will do it loudly.   And, as if a thought bubble was shot smack into the center of my brain, it came to me.

 I will boldly wear something in the perfect shade of red.   

Why it was this thought, I truly have no idea.   But when I made it through, as most people eventually do, I sent myself out to shop.      

Afraid that I would make a fool of myself by wearing something so very vibrant, in public, I shopped nervously through store after store.   But it began to settle in that I loved a particular shade of red with a heart-pounding intensity.    It was a velvety deep red that reminded me of luxury and charm.   It wasn't too orange.   It wasn't too blue.   It was perfectly rich with a deep boldness that was far too ideal for me to overlook.   Just staring at the deep crimson, somehow made me feel a tingle from my head to my toes.   Armed with this frisky bit of knowledge, I purchased and bagged up a flouncy new red blouse and the sweetest, flirty little red shoes I'd ever seen.

Walking to my car, I found myself profoundly happy.   The feeling pulsated through my entire body and lit up my face in a way that I had never experienced before.   It was thrilling!  It was magical.  And it was red.

When I arrived home, I rushed to put on the little blouse, a pair of sliming black capris...and then slid into the new itty-bitty red Mary Janes.    I stood there in the mirror, turning to the left, then the right.  Then I returned to the center.  Gazing at the reflection, I realized, red excited me!   It enraptured me in a new and deeply authentic way.   I was daring with my smart new red shoes.  I was living out loud!   

Without warning, this inspired me with desires to change my hair and to hunt down an exceptional lipstick in the perfect shade of red.   So I spoiled myself with a plucky new haircut and scoured my town for that perfect shade of lipstick.   The feeling was palpable.  I was incredibly free.  And it occurred to me that I was a new girl.   I had become color-full.   Who knew that a color would have such a measurable affect on a person?   

My love affair with the perfect shade of red has only intensified from that time forward.  I no longer fear shopping for red.  Instead, I crave it, like a child craves the taste of homemade strawberry ice cream on a hot August day.    I view the textures and shades of red, as if they are new parts of myself yet undiscovered.   And generously, I fling my arms open to enclose them, sort them and seek new finds.   

My home is splashed with shades of rich vibrant red.   And I am inspired.  Red seems to cover me and warms my soul.   Everyday,  it encouragingly shouts,

    "Here I am.   I am alive!  And I am living out loud!"
 
And with me giggling on Red's arm,  I share in its revelry.  
I will not out grow this passion I have come to find.   I will only share it!  And I will say to all those I know - I have lived color-less and I have lived color-rich.  Don't wait too long.  Take the color wheel of your life.   Spin it.   And let  your pulse tell you where to go.   Make a choice to live in color.  You may never be the same again.

(feeling full of passion...full of color...fully alive!)

Comments

[Diana]

Love it! Make me want to wear red too. :)

[Shabby Miss Jenn]

Now girl, this is the kind of bed my DH would love! Kinda ornate, not to femmy but VERY romantic!!!!! Awesome!!!!

[Chasity]

you've ALMOST convinced ME to love red! :) but i'm a green girl...either way, COLOR ROCKS!

[Lori]

Your red is my orange! Gotta love color! :)

[Lori]

Your red is my orange! Gotta love living in color! :)

[Lori]

LOL...oops...I guess I have lurked too long...didn't realize my comments were going through! :) Ok..this is my last one! Promise!

[Kristin]

Your aticle made me think of how I can't wait to be "living out loud" in my green BMW. How colorful will I be then? Just thinking about it inspires me!

[Kathy]

Jenn-I love to wear flourescient green especially in the summer! Excellent blog-keep up the awesome work.

[Joelle]

YOU are so right about living color-ful as opposed to color-less! I never thought about it that way before. PINK makes me so happy and excited and it is time for me to soak that up!!!

[Kendra]

Cobalt blue is my hue. I feel that color all the way in my soul. It soothes my mind and invigorates my senses. I totally understand what you mean and I agree wholeheartedly! Live in color!