I know the topic on the blog today isn’t one that we would normally discuss as this is not a cosmetologist site.  However, if you stay with me long enough, I promise to throw some inspiration in as I love to do.

What girl, lady, or woman doesn’t love being pampered.  Whether it is by going to get a massage at the spa or having a manicure and pedicure, as women, we like to treat ourselves every once in a while.

One day many years ago, I stopped in at a shop to have some “me time.”   It wasn’t something that I did too often.  Actually, I rarely gave myself the luxury of such a gift.   This time was different, though.

As I sat there with my feet soaking in the bubbling water, I could feel the stress leaving my body as if the drain at the very bottom would surely suck all of the stress down with the water when they pulled the plug.   I tried to tame my thoughts and not allow them to run wild but to, instead, try really hard not to think about anything at all.  Ladies, you know how that goes, though.  In moments like this, you try and you try, but you end up going over a list a mile long in your head of things you need to do … like the laundry, cleaning the house, washing drapes, etc.

Then my thoughts were interrupted right about the same time as my toes still soaking in the water started to look like little prunes!

“Ma’am … what color ma’am?”

I was snatched from my “to do list” in my head and brought back to the reality of a little Chinese person standing in front of me asking what color I would like my nails painted.

I replied with a simple:

“Red”

The little Chinese person immediately began shaking their head as they said:

“Red … no.  Red not your color, ma’am.”

I sat there for a second wondering if they really said those words to me or if my mind was playing tricks on me.  Then I heard it again:

“Red not your color!”

Um, okay.

I have never been told that before in all of my life.  Red … is not my color?   But, I love red!

I sat there slowly withdrawing my feet from the soapy water as they pulled the drain to let the water out.  I watched as the suds all but disappeared as they were washed away, like my desire to wear red and actually look good in it.

As they dried my feet and began their usual routine of clipping, trimming, and scrubbing, I sat there thinking about what they said.

How many times have you had your heart set on something only to have someone dash your hopes and dreams with their mere words?

It seems so small, the words that red just was not my color.  However, it was their opinion, too, not necessarily the truth of the matter.   Just because they did not think I would look good in red or that red was simply not my color in their eyes, their words did not have the power to stop me.  Only I had that power.  I had to decide at that moment in time whether I was going to allow a nay-sayer to take away my desire to wear red confidently ever again, or if I was going to go full steam ahead and insist on the red.

Can you guess which I chose?

The red, of course!

As they put their clippers away, then massaged my calves and heels, drying off my nails to prepare for the polish, they asked again:

“Ma’am, what color?”

With a smile forming at the corners of my lips, I simply replied with one word:

“Red!”

There it was!   There was the voice of confidence that had gotten pushed aside momentarily by the negative words spoken over me.  There was the voice that chose to rise above!  There was the voice with great determination that she would not only insist on red but look good and feel confident wearing it.

And guess what?  With their head shaking in disapproval, they did, in fact, paint my nails red.  A firey red.  A deep flame red, even.  But red … my heart’s desire!

The point in this entire post tonight is not to let any one else’s opinion trump your own!   Don’t let any one steal your joy either!   Just like I started out on this journey to have some “me time” and enjoy myself to the fullest, this had the potential to very easily steal my joy if I had allowed it to.  But you know what?  I didn’t.

And you shouldn’t either!

While we wish that every one we come into contact with would have encouraging words for and about us or that they would choose to speak life over us, not every one will.   The thing is NOT to allow someone else’s words to injure you.

Choose your red!  Choose whatever your heart’s desire is in this life.  Don’t let anyone change your mind.  If you change it later on, that is fine, but be sure that it is because you had a change of heart and NOT because someone spoke negatively over you.

Hold your head up high and live YOUR dream.   Be yourself.  Do your own thing. Don’t let any one else influence your decisions in a negative way.

Fast forward many, many years later, and guess what my signature color has been since that day?   You got it – RED!

With such determination, with such confidence, with my head held high, I wear my red polish proudly!   The majority of the time you will find me with perfectly polished red toenails and fingernails, and loving every minute of it!

Wear your red.

 
Join us every Wednesday for inspirational and encouraging messages straight from the heart here … and at Holley Gerth‘s site as well!