just SHINE

do you remember a moment in your life,
when you were probably much younger,
where maybe peer pressure was pulling you one way,
but your gut was screaming at you the RIGHT way?
This was a moment when you stopped being scared, and you let YOU come through.
It was magical.
You decided to SHINE.

Maybe there are moments even now,
that your gut is telling you something,
but you are too scared to listen.
You don't know if you can do it.
You don't know if you are enough.
You aren't sure if it will make any difference...

But how will you ever know if you don't just go for it?
How much is the world missing out on by not letting them see what you have for it?
Every little bit matters.
Every little bit makes the world shine brighter.
Every little bit makes a difference.
It really does.

So, about a year ago I stumbled upon a little project called the shine project.
It's a project that this sweet girl Ashley started.
I am going to be honest. I never just trust someone at face value.
Why was she doing this?
A bunch of people were jumping on the bandwagon.
But I just watched.
At first I thought the project was only to create scholarships for inner city teens.
ONLY is the wrong word. Because that is amazing in itself. Changing these teens may end up completely changing their outlook and they may change the world.
But this whole project is about so much more than that.
It's about every little thing that you can do to make the world a brighter place.
Ashley sometimes blogs about things that make you want to step out of your comfort zone. Try harder.
She inspires people to make a difference. She is not just a pretty face.

Then recently, I was SOOOOO excited about the newest PASS IT FORWARD cards.
I love this. I do this. Not that I want to brag about it, because it is little, little things.
But if you are doing these little things because it feels right. Sometimes you wonder if that person is inspired to do something too. Did they pass it forward? Did you change their thinking?
I have always hoped so. I have always imagined this chain of events that eventually hits the right person at the right time and it really does change something. That's the whole idea of these cards. Maybe you actually  get to see what your "right thing" ended up creating. Where the chain goes!

So, I decided I wanted to do more than just pass it forward with a shine card.
I want to help this project. I believe it just may be making people BE BRAVE enough to do the little things.
To BE THE CHANGE they wish to see. To make the world be a better place. In even the little ways.
I started sketching about things that the shine project is.
About things I want to teach my children.

BE BRAVE.
Let your light SHINE bright.
look for BEAUTY in everyone.
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see.
Know there is only 1 world and 1 you.
What do YOU have to offer?
Be you. 
you can do it. You can make a difference.

all of my shine products are a part of me being a shine partner. Every purchase will mean FUNDS will be sent to contribute to it. I hope that they help remind you to shine in your own way a little every day too.
JUST SHINE.