When I was maybe 4 or 5 years old, I was out with my mom shopping at Woolco department store. She was rummaging through the costume jewellery. I was skipping around with a black bra on my head pretending to be a member of the Mickey Mouse Club. Suddenly she stopped and picked up a pink and yellow enamel elephant brooch and laughing she said “Well, if you’re going to be an elephant, you might as well be a pink one.” My mother loved elephants and she bought that pin. I still have it.
I don’t know why what she said caught my attention that day, but it stayed with me. I actually think my mother was making a reference to weight. She always thought she was fat (she wasn’t) and was referring to herself as an elephant – but a really well-dressed elephant.
What I heard was “Whatever you are, be your amazing best self. Be exuberant. Be outrageously, gloriously, vibrantly whatever hue is right for you. Be a pink elephant if that’s what you want to be.
Society is going to try and knock that authentic gorgeousness out of you at a young age and y
ou will absorb all the conform-and-fit-in messages. Forget about it! Be a pink elephant or a purple cow or a vanilla gorilla or whatever works for you. Be you and don’t hold back. The world needs your authenticity.
The Pink Elephant Room 
I couldn’t agree more. A wise and well written piece. I will definitely be a regular visitor to The Pink Elephant Room!
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Hooray, Gillian! I see a natural cross pollination between words of wisdom and sayings for success, don’t you? 🙂
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What sage advice, delivered with such delightful simplicity! Love this first post of yours and I’m looking forward to reading more 🙂
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Cool! Lucky for me, I’ve known lots of smart women who’ve shared some real gems o’ wisdom over the years so there’s plenty more to come, Roshan.
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Me thinkum you be great blogger. Thank you for including purple in your first piece.
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Thanks, Sarah Jane! Purple has always been considered a bit of an outrageous colour, but you wear it well.
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As a father hoping to raise two savvy daughters, I look forward to reading future posts!
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Thanks, Steve. I think that just by setting such a positive goal for your girls, you’re well on your way to success!
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I love your post and also look forward to more… You just reminded me of a pair of pants I had when I was 5. We didnt have a lot of money when I was young so I am sure they were hand me downs from the sixties. They were purple with pink elephants on them… LOL!! And I did wear them…
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Ahh…a dream coming to fruition! Congrats on taking the plunge, and I hope there are many, many more posts to come. So proud of you (and I know your mom is, too).
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Thanks, Cheri. I couldn’t have gotten here without you!
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Feeling light and giddy after reading your blog. Looking forward to more, Audrey!
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Oooh, Pat. Thank you. Take deep breaths. I promise there’s lots more to come!
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