It’s Day 133 of the Pink Collar Savvy & Chic on Purpose Project and I’m elated that I was able to locate not one, but two more swan bookends. I’ve placed this pair of sisters in my office (occasional dining room) and feel so inspired by them. Finding them seems serendipitous, just like when I found the first one, especially since I had lunch yesterday with my soul sister, Kibby, and her son, who is an artist. When I explained to him what I’d like in the design for my logo, showed him pictures of the original bookend swan and the Shutterstock swan I first fell in love with, Kibby then shared images she’s captured that say: Pink Collar Savvy & Chic! She’s as enthusiastic about my business as I am and has provided great insight into the practical side of things. Most valuable of all, yesterday, she spoke the truth in love to me regarding my own personal growth. After pondering our conversation, I realized she’s a Savvy & Chic Swan Sister.

As some of you know, I’ve struggled to embrace changes to my body following a medically necessary hysterectomy. I went from have a very small bust to having the very opposite! All while keeping my not quite 30″ back. Then, in August, I visited LivieRae Lingerie, in Atlanta (www.livieraelinger.com) to have my petite curvy body fitted. I’ve waited weeks for everything to arrive after the bands were taken in and was happy to model for Kibby in the locker room as we dressed after Zumba. The new fit really does do the trick and I feel so much better about my body than I did when I couldn’t find anything for my somewhat unusual size. Kibby was so supportive about my support (Ha, ha, I couldn’t resist!). Still, thrilled as I am about my purchases, somehow I reverted back to grumbling about my new body, which feels to me as if I woke up from surgery with an unwanted augmentation!

Now, Kibby is one the most gentle women I know, so it was no surprise that in a very loving, strengths-based way, she was able to remind me of all the positives about my body, including how it makes me more relatable to the women I coach. She went on to remind me that since I coach on image, I need to accept and embrace my own. Wow! Her words of wisdom didn’t hurt, but they sure hit the target! Whenever I go out with women for image coaching sessions, it’s almost inevitable that their negative perceptions of their bodies surface. In fact, I always assure them before we meet: “I’ll not only dress you, I’ll address your image issues.”  Kibby’s gentle reminder made me realize that I’ll be a much more effective coach when I am truly practicing what I preach to my clients, or swans as I’m now calling them.

As a Pink Collar Savvy & Chic Swan (love that!), I’m so thankful that God places true friends in our lives to tell us things that others won’t. It’s like having something stuck in your teeth – a dozen people will talk with you and not mention it and then your girlfriend calls it out immediately! She isn’t being rude or uncaring. To the contrary. She cares too much to let you go unchecked. Even if the truth hurts, a principle taught in the Bible: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6, KJV). Kibby, you wear the crown of a Savvy & Chic Swan Sister with beauty and grace, the embodiment of the swan.

What about you, Savvy & Chic Swan? Do you speak the truth in love when needed? To friends? Family? Coworkers? When you do, you’re being a Swan Sister too.

Be savvy & chic,

~Pink Collar Coach