So, Owning Pink is all about getting our Mojo back by Owning the parts of ourselves that may have been sliding. For a lot of Pinkies, that includes their Spiritual or Creative lives, their Sexuality, their Femininity … you get the picture. But remember – these aren’t the things that comprise you as an individual. They are areas of your life that you inhabit, but of course we know that there’s more to you than that.

What parts of YOU have you reclaimed, or are you ready to Own? Try making a list of things that are totally, uniquely you. Things you are tired of trying to hide or correct. Things that you’ve stuffed into corners because you thought they were weird or ugly or unacceptable. Things you’ve forgotten about yourself. The more we Own about ourselves – the more we accept, love, forgive, and include – the more complete we are, the more we glow Pink.

This isn’t something you need to share with anyone but your Pink self. Maybe it’s something you’ll want witnessed by your Pink Posse. That’s up to you. You’re exposing new, unknown, and vulnerable parts of yourself – make sure they’re put out into a safe space where they’ll be respected and nurtured (like your Joy Journal). I know that the Owning Pink community is just such a space, so for the purpose of this exercise – and to test the limits of my own courage and get this REALLY out there – I’ll share some of the ways I’m learning to Own Myself. Here we go. (Deep, shaky breath.)

1. I like to listen to adult easy listening music in the car. I just do. Though I still keep the windows rolled up, if you see me crooning to my car, it’s probably along to Richard Marx or Sade or a Lionel Ritchie ballad. I love sappy love songs. There. I said it. Owned.
2. I did gymnastics for most of my childhood and now have really broad shoulders. Once a flight attendant on a Japanese airline asked if I was a swimmer – he just couldn’t get over my physique. Yep, my shoulders are unusually bulky, and while we’re at it, my arms are big too. And they’re mine. And I love them. And I Own them. So pbth...
3. Sometimes I like to be quiet. A lot of the time actually. I’m not much of a talker, and never have been. As such I’ve heard myself described as aloof or stand-offish. Often I’m asked what’s wrong. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just me being me. Owning that I don’t have to be chatty if it’s not what feels good.
4. Whenever I’m in a wide open space – a big empty office, a gym, a stretch of green grass – I get the urge to do a cartwheel. Lately I’ve been Owning this by saying “f--- it” and just cartwheeling, regardless of whether it’s “appropriate.” It’s the way my body wants to move, and I gotta say, it feels … SO good.
5. I found the love of my life when I was 22. I’m now 31. I’ve spent most of the last nine years questioning the rightness of this choice. I mean, I don’t like who I was when I was 22, how could that person have made the right decision? Plus, I’m sooo not a person who would get into a relationship that young before having had time to “find myself.” Now, I’m Owning my 22-year-old self, and validating her intuition and her decision. I’m also Owning that I AM the person who would get and stay in a relationship so young because, well, that’s what I did. That’s who I am. I’m Owning it all.

So then, Pinksters, how do You Own You? What are you ready to bring to the forefront, own, accept, and, if it’s time, release? How might this change your life? What if you Owned the part of you that always wanted to be a children’s librarian? The part of you that likes to make those old-school rope bracelets out of embroidery thread? Your inner clarinet player? What if you Owned the part of you that can barely resist wearing plaid? The one that still hates your older brother for using you as a tackling dummy? Who could you be if you Owned all of you?

We in the Pink Posse are ready to hear, love, accept, and applaud every single part. Own it all!

With a Pink standing ovation,

Joy