Tinted by choice…

It was a slow Friday evening, the fire crackling in the hearth, and laughter flowing like good wine. Wrapped in warmth and conversation, Elsa said, “No one else can colour your life – that’s your brush to hold.”

That moment lingered. And this blog was born…

It has often been said that colour influences how we feel, how we think, and how we behave. Colour is everywhere in our lives. It’s in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, how we paint our rooms, and the furniture we surround ourselves with. Even our appetite is influenced by colour!

Yes, ever wondered why fast-food places are basically dressed in red and yellow? It’s a secret appetite hack. Red gets your heart pumping, yellow makes you smile, and together they shout, “Eat me now!” And you thought it’s just coincidence that strawberries and cream is the ultimate Wimbledon snack? Nope, it has been an appetite magnet for 148 years!

But just like colour shapes our world, we are indeed responsible for colouring our own lives – because no one else will do it for us. No one is coming with a paintbrush and a plan. No one is going to pour joy, peace, purpose, or adventure into our days for us. That’s our job.

This is not me being cynical – it’s a fact. But it’s liberating! To realize that no one is going to colour your world, means the power, and the permission, is yours! And then?

You stop waiting for the perfect partner, job, compliment, or moment. And once you realize it’s your brush, your canvas, your life – you’re free to choose the colours that you love. Not what others expect, and, definitely not, what social media says. Joy can be bold red. Peace can be soft blue. Purpose might be messy yellow with streaks of green – it’s your choice. Fully.

When you own your colours, you stop comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel. You realize: “Their painting is theirs. Mine is mine. And mine is coming alive in its own way.” You’re not stuck. You’re the artist. And that’s not pressure – it’s potential.

…Last week I stumbled upon this poem by Rumi, the 13^th century poet: “Become the sky. Take an axe to the prison wall. Escape. Walk out like someone suddenly born into colour…”

Wow, those words sound mighty abstract, don’t they? But it’s more than poetry. It’s the truth – a reminder that we often live behind self-built walls, waiting for something or someone to set us free. And yet, the axe is already in our hands. The choice, the change, the colour – it starts with us. The poem isn’t fantasy. It’s an instruction and call to action…A challenge to stop waiting for someone else to paint your life for you.

We all have invisible walls: fear, routine, guilt, self-doubt. And while the world may feel grey behind them, the truth is this – you are the one holding the axe. You are the artist. The sky, the colour, the freedom – it’s all on the other side of that wall.

Every morning you stand before a blank canvas. You choose your colours – your attitude, your habits, your people. You brighten your space – with laughter, moments, movement, and music. And you mix the mess with meaning – turning hard days into honest ones, and small wins into celebrations. Whether you doodle, dance, scribble, or paint a masterpiece – the world will reflect what you choose to reflect.

The stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, understood the power of mindset. He said: “The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts…” Wow!  

…My life is dyed by the colour of my thoughts (Send this cursive line to me before Sunday 20.00 if you are a Challenge member, please). Even in dark seasons, when life tries to paint us in black and white, you and I can still choose to add light and colour, through perspective, faith, and gratitude. Every stain can be painted over, because your paintbrush is your power. Don’t like what you see? Rinse it off. Wipe it clean…And start again. 

You don’t have to paint a masterpiece every day. You simply need to make one small, positive choice – admiring a bunch of orange tulips, wearing the dress that makes you feel alive, saying the thing you’ve been holding in, taking the walk. Appreciating the full moon, moving your body. Setting the boundary. Swinging the axe.

You have the choice to add your own colour to your world. Every single day. You have the power to create beauty, even in chaos. You owe it to yourself to tint your life by choice. Every little thing is a splash of colour. And over time, those strokes become a beautiful mosaic of a life well lived.

Even your fitness journey should be filled with your colours – a way to paint your days with energy, confidence, and self-respect… Whether it’s dancing, lifting weights, walking your dog, or doing a step class – it should make you feel alive. Showing up daily – especially on days when your motivation is low – is like adding layer upon layer of vibrant colour to your world.

“I can’t”, “I’m not good enough”, or “I’ll never get there” are dull, dark shades that dim your light. Choose brighter ones: “I’m showing up”, “I’m getting stronger”, “I’m proud of myself…” The colours you speak are the colours you live in.

A colourful life doesn’t have to be extravagant – it just has to be yours. It’s not about grand gestures; the most vivid lives are painted with simple joys, quiet growth, and authentic connections. Colour doesn’t come from cost. It comes from courage, creativity, and choosing to live fully right where you are.

So, take the brush, and start painting. Splash a little joy into your routine. Paint with hope, highlight with grace, and remember: You don’t need a passport, a party, or a Picasso to live a colourful life. Just passion.

In the words of the famous philosopher, Kahlil Gibran:

“Let me, o let me bathe my soul in colours; let me swallow the sunset and drink the rainbow…”

Yours in fitness

Mirna
082 779 0507