Dear Friends,

2002 was a great year. When I look back at the good fortune I've enjoyed this past year, I think it began with a gift given to me by an old friend who's always been wonderfully supportive and encouraging. It was a bumper sticker with a quote by Joseph Campbell: "FOLLOW YOUR BLISS". Every time I see the back of my car, I smile. So you can imagine how this "blissful" seed has blossomed! Thank you Peggy!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank every person I have done business with this past year. Every client, workman and supplier has been a pleasure to deal with. The business of getting merchandise fabricated and shipped to customers all over the United States could easily be problematic. However, I have been incredibly fortunate. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We are living in times of great change and uncertainty, yet it is possible to create a synchronistic lifestyle where everything seems to magically drop into place at just the right moment. I've read quite a few books on the subject, and they all say the first step is to find your passion. If your life involves doing what you love, then all those magical opportunities will naturally appear.

The next step is to focus on your feelings and think of all the things you currently enjoy or have enjoyed in life, because the more appreciative and grateful you are, the more new, good experiences will naturally follow. If you make space in your daily life to notice the synchronicities, you'll notice the hidden gifts in every encounter. It's just a matter of shifting your perspective. It's amazing how this not only brings positive changes in your life, but in those around you. After all, "we are all one", right?

Our connection to Mother Earth is also inseparable. Therefore, when she changes her seasons, our inner natures also change with the seasons. We recognize the season we're in by the way we feel. In Winter, we tend to slow down and stay at home more often. Winter gives us an opportunity to reflect and heal what no longer works in our lives. Many people experience physical illness in Winter, so that they have no choice but to go within. I can't remember where I heard the quote "go within or you go without"; but it couldn't be more appropriate for this season. After all, how can we move forward into the rejuvenation of Spring without first preparing our soil and selecting our seeds?

I'm no therapist, but I do work closely with clients helping them create their environment which goes hand in hand with their lifestyle. Therefore, the first step is to help them crystallize what it is that truly makes them happy. I've found we usually have this overall picture of our goals and what we want our lives to be like, but haven't really spent much time imagining how we would like to spend each moment.

The first question I ask is "how would you like to spend each moment of your day? In other words, what are the things that give you joy and passion? What tugs on your heartstrings?" Once you pinpoint the small things that make you happy, you may find that the overall "big picture" you had in mind really isn't what you want after all. This brings the opportunity to make the changes needed to improve your life. I love helping people nurture themselves. Yet, I, too, have to remember that if we don't nurture and treat ourselves well, then how can we expect to help others?

Since I started following one of my passions, color, I've been amazed at the people I have serendiptously come into contact with. Charlotte Bright of St. Louis, for instance, heard about my Full Spectrum Paints and telephoned to order some for her office. When I inquired about her business, she said she was a Color and Sound Therapist and an Aura Soma Practitioner. While I understand a little about color and sound therapy, I had never heard of Aura Soma. As it turns out, Aura Soma is a healing modality using the language of color mixed with herb and crystal essences. The Aura Soma website is listed on "Our Favorite Links" page. To email Charlotte for a personal consultation: cos121@earthlink.net

Another synchronistic event involved meeting Glynn Hedrick, a painter who was using my paints on a recent decorating project in New Orleans. We had never discussed my paints, so imagine my surprise when he called to say how much the energy had shifted in the house as soon as he painted the first few rooms. As we continued our conversation, he went on to tell me about other projects where he first painted healing mandalas on the walls and then painted over them so that you couldn't see them, but you could feel them. (My clients had no idea of his multi-talented background when they hired him.) Although, Glenn is located in New Orleans, he paints all over the country. He also does decorative painting, carpentry and reiki. Murphy Brown would have snatched him up in a New York minute! Glenn's phone number: (504) 905-0622.

We have created quite a few new paint colors over the past year and welcome the opportunity to create more. Our new Full Spectrum Paints Brochure lists each color and the activities and emotions they enhance. I'm happy to report, that we no longer have to ship our paints, as most cities have an ICI Dulux Paint store. Once you place your order with us, we can arrange for the formulas to be faxed to your local store and the paint to be picked up there.

If you would like your own "Follow Your Bliss" bumper sticker, please email me your address and I'd be delighted to send you one as my gift to you.

I hope your 2003 is full of bliss!