JOY = Success.

"The only true measure of success is the amount

of joy we are feeling."

Abraham Hicks

How do you measure or define success? The dictionary says success = the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like. If you asked me as a child in school, I may have defined success the same way. I may have thought my box of 64 crayons w/ a built in sharpener was the pinnacle of my success. But you know, those crayons brought me joy! I think we should chase the things that bring us joy... but, I don't think we should chase what others think we should be obtaining. Like, should I be buying the Crayola factory and then I'll be successful? Or will my box alone do? We are taught things, especially an abundance of things = success. It's due time we redefine history, don't you think? What about you? Are you hard on yourself and think you must live up to someone else's expectation or idea of what success really is? I mean, it is written in the dictionary and all, but without joy, whats the worth of anything? Will you be successful with just your amazingly creative imagination and your heart + mind alive w/ JOY?? With this feeling stock piled in your bank, will you be able to chase down the biggest things in life that bring you joy (maybe it is owning the Crayola factory?!) and actually live the most successfull life imagined? I say YES. Own your JOY. And then skip gleefully down this path you've created for yourself.

What brings you JOY?! What makes you skip down the sidewalk? Really! I want to know :)

Life update: My friends, I have been paralyzed slightly w/ some decisions in my life. Fantastic opportunities. Fantastic as they may have been, I decided just weren't right. Last night I posted this: "when you're stuck: its amazing how just making A decision on something, no matter if it's right or wrong, is so much better than suffering in indecision. especially if you're so weighed down by this decision you can hardly move. i was in this place, and feeling a thousand tons lighter today..." on my facebook page and Sabrina Ward Harrison "liked it" (I am big lover of Sabrina!) I felt like such a geek jumping around w/ excitement... because simple as it may be it really cemented the fact I felt the decision I made was right - no matter if it was "right or wrong." It was right. And I feel so much lighter. I was ready to pop a bottle of champagne, but it was too cold to drive to the store.

I will share more thoughts on this later.... For now I am working in some ideas for a major overhaul of my blog, and I've created a website: www.carissapaige.com which needs some major work too. Also! I'm excited to announce I'm starting a Sparkly New NEWSLETTER! You can sign up for it at the link up top of my blog. I promise I won't be blowing up your email box, but I would like to make a very meaningful, inspiring, creative newsletter that you'll be excited to receive! It will begin sometime in January.

Happy Holidays to you!!!! I hope you had a joy filled Christmas.... I am so looking forward to all the good things 2011 is going to offer!!!!

Love & Light,

Carissa Paige

"Student of Joy. Seeker of Freedom. Maker of Art." <- my new tagline