If You Never Try.

Bring Your Own Shine Shirt here

Print it out for free for yourself! Printable in: Yellow Pink Blue

printable designed by Nicole

When I graduated from high school, I decided that I didn't want to be shy anymore. I was still little old shy me on the inside, but on the outside I pretended that I wasn't. I made an effort to go out of my way to talk to people, I got to know them, and realized that if I focused the conversation on them, that we wouldn't have to talk about me, and I wouldn't get all uncomfortable and sweaty. ha. Each day I practiced this, and now I enjoy talking to large groups of people, meeting strangers on the street, and making new friends. I've become outgoing, but only because I started doing little things each day that would make me this way. Overcoming my shyness is one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Ever since I was little, I've wanted to change the world. I think most of us do. But it's a task that I can't do unless I can find like minds who are willing to do it with me. Over the past year as The Shine Project has grown, I've met you. Lots of you who choose to do little things each day to make a big difference. A few months ago I started feeling like it was time for my next move; my next step to leave a big fat shiny footprint in this dark world. We launched a new blog that will help do that, but behind the scenes, we've been working on something bigger. A team of interns and I, plus some more people who you'll "meet" next week, have been working working working to change more lives.

It's called Threads.

The launch date is next Wednesday at 12:01 AM. I've been working 17  hour days for weeks getting this thing going. I've been praying for guidance, and been training key people who are behind this new line of products. You've seen me Instagram, Facebook, and Tweet little bits and pieces about it, but none of you really know what it's all about. Thank you for being supportive. Thank you for joining us in our efforts to make a change in this crazy world. I know you have 1 million other blogs, shops, causes and people to support, and I am SO grateful that you choose to support me. That you choose to support the kids, and the non-profit, and the shine shop. You're amazing. And you are why Threads is now able to happen.

I feel like all the little things I have done with The Shine Project over the past year have led to this moment. It's weird how it happens like that. Things have come so far, all because I decided to choose to do little things each day that have gotten me to the point I'm at in my life right now.

I hope you'll join me in this exciting launch day next Wednesday. The closer it comes, the more I want to puke. Today my interns and I were in my tiny office, and a big package of printed material came for Threads. I looked at them and said, this is real. My heart is beating so fast right now, I want to cry of happiness and puke all at the same time. The closer next Wednesday gets, the more butterflies I get. But it feels so right. It feels so good and I know that this journey is just beginning. I hope that it can inspire even just one of you to go after your dreams and to change the lives of those who are sitting next to you. Let's do this together. I hope that this is a story of success, but even if it's not, I feel like I still win. You only fail if you never try is written in big black letters on my white board right now. Maybe it's just to ease my stomach, but deep down, I truly believe it. Thanks for going through this journey with me. 

6 days. We're gonna do this.