Harmony: Dreams and Life Coming Together

The color green in its many shades and hues has been a strong favorite of mine for many years - to the point that it was the most represented color in my home and wardrobe too, until just a few years ago. I wasn't quite as obsessed with green as The Green Lady, but when I discovered her, I sure felt like we were soul sisters. Green has been a very happy color for me too! (Find proof in my old post The Color of Your Soul with photos from May 2013 - before this blog.)

But instead of going all the way into green, I then started actively discovering other colors, and green got somewhat overlooked for the past couple of years or so - I felt much less drawn to it, I think it seemed too familiar, not very exciting if you will. And my last couple of years were definitely all about excitement, exploration and discovery regarding my personal style. And let me tell you, I discovered lots and lots of colors! 

But eventually and inevitably I started missing green hues and looking forward to adding more green stuff to my life again. The English expression "green with envy" or the Russian one "green anguish" (тоска зеленая) are alien to me. On the surface, there is this colorful, bold, at times eccentric and even what can seem to some a bit loud exterior, which is a lust for life and which is a big part of who I am. 

Lionfish (source: Wikipedia)

On one of our trips to the Aquarium years ago, my Dad said that Lionfish reminds him of me.

But there is an underlying layer too, which I believe makes me more grounded and well-balanced, and that layer is harmony. Loosing the inner harmony, the precious connection to my true self is like singing out of tune, like being a fish out of water. My whole being suffers so much that I mobilize all forces to find that connection again. It becomes my foremost priority. Depending on where I am in my inner journey, it can take anywhere from a few years to a few seconds to start singing in tune again. Harmony is how I define happiness - not excitement or ecstasy, but harmony, and green is the color of harmony to me.

This particular shade of green is what I call "mustard green" (traditional Russian hot mustard is rather green - not yellow), and it has been one of my most favorite hues for many years - I remember having a gorgeous long wool coat in a darker shade of mustard green in the 1990s, that was a thing of beauty. And of course when I saw this set of leopard pattern jacquard skirt and sweater, I felt it was an old, quieter part of me connecting with the new, bolder part of me, and both parts started singing in perfect tune, harmonizing with one another. Jacquard sweaters and sweater dresses (or skirts) that seem to have a particularly hot moment this season, remind me of what we wore back in the 1980s when we were kids and young teens - so when I wore this outfit, it was such a feeling of coming back home.

Maybe it's why I intuitively chose this outfit to wear on a day when I was busy signing and sending my books to my dear readers? I hadn't thought about it when I decided on it, but I felt so strongly connected, that there was no question about what to wear that day. 

The feeling that many parts of me, my dreams and my life are coming together, is truly amazing. I think that's what we ultimately live for - finding the harmony between our inner selves and the path we choose in our life. Finding what brings us the most joy and makes our soul sing in perfect tune with our daily life.

Now you see why I enjoy writing this blog - it really helps me to understand myself better, to find the lost connections, or to connect the disconnected dots as I said in one of my earlier posts. All my senses get into focus, all the best parts of me feel are extremely alive when I write. 

As much as I enjoy writing, I feel a bit shy in front of the camera, so please forgive my mistakes. I recorded this little video for you, my friends and readers, in which I introduce you to the results of my work for the past few years which manifested in 2016 in not just one, as I thought, but three books being published this past year. 

I am so eager to share my news with you! I hope you'll find a moment to watch this short video, made on a cold and windy January day, and if you are interested in reading my fairy tale (which is now available not only in Russian, but also in English, thanks to Justin's beautiful translation), and get creative with our interactive companion book (which is bilingual, Russian and English) - then Andrei and I will be the most happy. 

Fairy tales are not trivial. 

They are not just silly stories to entertain an undemanding audience. 

On the contrary, the best fairy tales have an amazing power to change life.

Fairy tales need people as much as people need fairy tales!

You can find all the links to my books under the video on YouTube or on the page MY BOOKS. Feel free to contact me if you would like to have a signed copy, or if you're not sure how to get my books in your part of the world. We are only learning about the shipping and handling process, but I'm sure we can figure something out even if Amazon or Amazon UK don't ship it to your country yet.

Listen to your dreams. Particularly those of them which seem especially hard to reach, yet so desirable that they bring you that bittersweet feeling at times. Do not ignore them. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that they are for "chosen ones" or for "lucky ones". Do not think that happiness and fulfillment are random. We all have dreams, and we have them for a good reason, not to be tortured by them. Our dreams are the sharpest tool we get - they are the compass that our inner, most connected part of ourselves, gives us to show the direction in which to move on with our life. All we need is to honor this tool!

If you, like myself and millions of others, were spooked earlier in life and did not pursue your dreams because of the lack of guidance or support, either from your family or from society, do not fall into another trap of thinking that it is "all their fault" and that now is "too late". It is never about fault, and it is definitely never too late to live the life that you came here to live. Now is the perfect time to begin!

And if you "forgot" what your dreams are, if you feel unsure, then take time to explore, do not hurry yourself - just enjoy your explorations. Remember that "not all who wander are lost". Trust that the details will sort themselves out. What matters is our eagerness to create. There will be dark times - but let this little phrase that helped me to stay on track countless times, be a beacon on your journey -

"It's always darkest before the dawn." 

My book is dedicated to Boys and Girls in search of their wings through the whole wide world - and I mean, to all girls and boys, little and grown ones. Know that you have all you need to make your dream a reality! 

Here is to a new year filled with Active Creativity!

Jacquard skirt and sweater - Ashley Stewart (sale)

Russian platok - my parents' gift

Coat - Ashley Stewart (old)

Boots - Ecco's (old)

Purse - Michael Kors via TJ MAXX (sale)

Jewelry - a mix from my collection (old)

Books - by Andrei Lialin and Natalia Lialina :) 

Linking up with Tina's Pink Friday

Fun Fashion Friday

Visible Monday

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