Winter 2005

Every winter, I write about this season being the one where people tend to stay in and spend time re-evaluating their lives, figuring out what works and what doesn't. In my Winter 2003 newsletter, I wrote about creating a "synchronistic lifestyle" where everything seems to fall magically into place at just the right moment. Since then, I have often been asked to recommend books on this subject and while all of the books I've recommended are definitely worthwhile, I serendipitously (of course!) came across the best one yet!

Recreating Eden, by Julia Rogers Hamrick, is the quintessential, cut-to-the-chase guide to creating a life of joy and ease. She explains specifically how energy works, and how to connect with it, so that you attract the people and opportunities to you that help you fulfill your life and make the world a more joyful place. Of all the books I've read about these evolutionary times and your role in the world, Julia's Recreating Eden explains it the most simply, and with extraordinary insight. Although you can purchase her book on Amazon.com, I suggest you visit Julia's website, recreating-eden.com, where you can not only purchase the book, but read her interesting newsletters as well as her online journal. (And if you order directly from the website, she can sign your book for you if you like!) An article in her winter newsletter, "Magical Light-Filled Paints, Magical Light-Filled Connections," not only gives her unique take on Full Spectrum Paints, it tells about the magical connection we've made via the World Wide Web!

The Internet has also been a great way to stay in touch with family and friends that no longer live nearby. Fifteen years ago, when I was working in New York, I met designer Marc Charbonnet, who is also from Louisiana. We hit it off immediately and have kept in contact via the phone and email ever since I moved back home. Marc has been one of Architectural Digest Magazine's top 100 designers for several years now, and our Full Spectrum Paints is one of his "Discoveries by Designers" in Architectural Digest's February 2005 issue.

My life hasn't been the same since! It used to be just me answering the phone and a few part-time employees who would paint samples for me on weekends. Since Marc's Architectural Digest article, I've hired a talented new business associate, Debbie Langston (actually, I call her my "V.P."), and a staff of close to a dozen people to handle all the orders we've been getting for sample sets and sample jars. When I telephoned Marc to thank him and let him know how his article has changed my life, he told me about an exciting new line of fabric he's working on that will be debuting soon. I'll keep you posted! Marc also confessed that he misses New Orleans and asked me why I thought he didn't have many projects down South. I told him I thought it was because with a client list that includes Michael J. Fox, people probably assume he is prohibitively expensive-which, by the way, is not the case. To view his portfolio of design projects, visit Marc's website, mecaproductions.com.

It's amazing how many telephone calls and emails we're getting from this one small article. I couldn't believe it when Bonnie Krims, author of four very popular books on color, The Perfect Palette, The Perfectly Painted House, Perfect Palettes For Painting Rooms, and Painting Your House Inside and Out, emailed inquiring about Full Spectrum Paints! We've corresponded frequently since then and I'm proud to announce that Bonnie is now one of "Our Favorite Consultants" listed on our website. For more information on Bonnie's extensive background, visit Our Favorite Consultants. In addition, you'll see a link to a new web page on Tom Drillot, our color consultant from Connecticut.

I've also been able to stay in touch via email with friends Beth and Jim Morgan who have been in France the last couple of years, living in all of the places Matisse lived and painted, as research for Jim's book, Chasing Matisse which will be coming out this April. I've been living their fascinating life vicariously via their website, chasingmatisse.com, where Beth chronicles their journey and exciting experiences in her online journal "Beth's Diary." (A warning-it's addictive!) Their site is a great source for accommodations and restaurants if you're planning a trip to France, and even if you're not, it will make you wish you were! Even though the book is finished, Beth's journal continues, as they've decided to stay in Paris indefinitely. When Jim emailed me the other day, asking permission to quote some of my earlier newsletters on color therapy, I nearly fell off my chair! (Of course, I said "yes!")

As you can see from all these exciting new developments, I've certainly been attracting people and opportunities that are expanding my world! Reading Recreating Eden has not only inspired me, it has helped me to understand how and why these experiences of serendipity are increasing. Since I've been following the principles outlined in the book, life has been like living a divine treasure map--without the frenzied hunt! It would seem that when you make the intention of being in alignment with your inner guidance, agree to be of service in a larger way, and open your mind and heart to whatever that will bring, it initiates a powerful movement of energy. When you trust that you will be given all that you need to accomplish what it is you are called to do, and then stay in the moment with it, the results are astonishing! What you are given is even more exciting, and more appropriate, than what you might have cooked up yourself. As for my personal adventure, I've been doing my best to follow my inner guidance in the moment, and just by putting one foot in front of the other, paying attention to the signs, and following the energy, I've discovered wondrous things, greater joy, and have attracted exciting people and opportunities! Like magic! Try it-it works!

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