New Year’s Resolution for 2017: I Choose Joy
Happy New Year! I am back from my blogging break during which time I spent countless hours photographing merchandise for Shelbee’s Shoppe, taking measurements, and loading the images online for your shopping pleasure! I also reformatted my entire website to accommodate my online shop. Please do stop by and see all the pretty things! I am still adding items every day, so please continue to check back. And do let me know what you think!
For my very first post of the new year, I want to share a little story with you all. During the late morning of New Year’s Eve, I was out and about running some errands and I was in a complete miserable, ornery funk for some reason. I was super irritable and downright bitchy. One of my errands was to stop by and pick up my custom-made bracelets from Lisa of Morgia Designs.
Lisa will customize these adjustable aluminum band bracelets with any saying or phrase you choose. Or you can pick ones she has already made. I have been wanting jewelry with my Shelbee’s Shoppe tagline “Rediscover Your Edge”…so I had Lisa make a bracelet for me. I also had one made which says simply “On the Edge”.
Anyway, back to the story of my miserable mood and my New Year’s resolution. I was driving around, all stuck in my own head, fueling my own fire, and getting bitchier by the moment. I was having trouble locating Lisa’s house so I had to message her. As I sat facing two white houses, knowing one of them was hers, I sent her a message asking, “Is your house the one with the white truck in the driveway or the one with JOY in the window?” She responded, “The one with JOY in the window? Don’t you love my JOY?” Lisa had prominently displayed in her front window the word JOY spelled out in beautiful wreaths. (I wish I had taken a picture!) For the moment, the magnitude of these three little letters escaped me. I grabbed my bracelets out of her mailbox, sent her a quick thank you message, and drove away to finish my remaining errands.
As I drove off, very pleased with my new bracelets but still fuming in my own aggravation, I began thinking about Lisa’s message of Joy. And my thoughts went on something like this…”Hmmm. Joy. Joy? Isn’t that what this entire holiday season is about? And here I am driving around getting myself all worked up over nothing really. Just feeding my own negativity. And isn’t Joy a choice, really? Can’t I just choose Joy? I have complete control over my own miserable thoughts and I can turn them off as quickly as I have turned them on. As easily as I have allowed them to take control, I can regain that control. So for now, for today, I am going to choose Joy. And I am going to continue to choose Joy every time I start feeling ornery.” And this, my friends, is how I came to the resolution that I will choose Joy for all of the new year. So in 2017, my resolution is to choose Joy. At every single opportunity. What have you resolved to do to make 2017 the best year ever?
Outfit details
Dress: Old Navy (No longer available, but similar here).
Cardigan: Old Navy Super Long Open-Front Cardi in Mauvey Star.
Boots: Aerosoles Gather Round Wedge Boots in Mid Brown Suede.
Necklace: Walmart.
Bracelets: Morgia Designs (Rediscover Your Edge and On the Edge); Mantra Band (You Got This); Silver Bangle bracelet with “Lil Sis” heart charm was a gift from my sister last Christmas. (This Christmas I got my sister a custom-made “Smiles Guaranteed” bracelet from Morgia Designs. “Smiles Guaranteed” is my sister’s business tagline at Oogie’s Ice Cream.)
Wishing you all a very healthy, happy, prosperous, and joyful New Year from the Edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups Where I Link Up
48 Comments
Stephanie
Great post and message! I choose joy too!!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Yes, Stephanie! I am so happy that you choose joy as well! #ChooseJoy! Happy New Year to you and I wish you many joyful days all the year through!
xoxo
Shelbee
jodie filogomo
What a fabulous message Shelbee! Because I think you are so right…we can choose joy. It’s not the events that happen to us, but how we react to them. Of course, it’s easier to preach it in the calmness, I just hope I can remember it during the stressful times!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jodie! I think it needs to become a mantra of sorts so that we can remember it during the stressful times. Sometimes, I just say it right out loud, “I Choose Joy!” It helps to keep myself from succumbing to the wretched! Happy New Year to you, my friend. I wish you much Joy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Julia
That’s a great message Shelbee. I’ll try to remember it as we go through 2017! Happy New Year!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by, Julia! I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Christensen
Love your outfit, Shelbee. The dress is so pretty and perfect for the winter months. Your sweater and boots are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your struggle. Joy is definitely a choice and to quote a Bible verse…”…bring every thought captive…” There are times we need to capture those negative thoughts in a net and throw them in the garbage! Ha, ha. Your choice to choose joy will make a difference every day! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Amy, thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful thoughts on the topic of choosing joy! And thank you for the lovely compliment! I wish you a very happy and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Melissa
Such a cute foral dress. Sometimes negativity gets away with so many things. I sometimes feel like that, but glad you figured out how to change it around. It’s so easy to dwell on the negative… like super easy. It’s harder to turn it around, so pat yourself in the back, you did it girlfriend!
xo
Mel
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Mel, thank you so much! I still flounder a bit, for sure. But then I just have to say the words out loud! I choose joy! I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jill
What a great message and inspiration for the new year! I need to remember to choose joy more often instead of letting the negative take over. This is such a pretty look! I love the long cardigan layered over your dress!
Jill
Doused In Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Jill! It is so easy to forget these little messages that come to us in moments of clarity! I need to remind myself all the time to choose joy and happiness over negativity. I wish you a very joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kelsey
Beautiful sentiment. It is amazing how sometimes joy and gratitude can hit us over the head when we’re in a downright bad mood. Love your style too, and those bracelets!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Kelsey! My next custom bracelet order is going to be one that says “Choose Joy.” Just to remind me when I am in a bad mood! I wish you a very healthy, happy, and joyful New Year.
xoxo
Shelbee
Edye
Joy is such a wonderful thing to choose, Shelbee! I wish you a year filled with immense happiness, peace, and of course, joy <3
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so very much, Edye! I wish you so much joy as well in the new year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Andrea@WellnessNotes
Yes, it’s all about seeing the joy in our life even when there are things that are less than perfect… I also love the word “joy”and ordered a pillowcase with it on it today so that I don’t forget to find joy in what I’m doing every day…
Wishing you a wonderful 2017!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I love that you ordered a “Joy” pillow to remind you to find Joy daily! Thanks so much, Andrea, for stopping by and for the lovely comment. I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
colleen @ 50 days of no grey
What a great story about choosing Joy – it sounds so simple – if only! Thanks for sharing & inspiring a little Joy!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Colleen, thanks so much! I try to spread kindness and joy whenever I can! I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
nicole
Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style. Nice new background.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Nicole! Happy New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Dawn Lucy
Yes to Joy! And your new shop is so fun! Loving it, Dear!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Dawn Lucy! And a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year to you!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patti
Me too – choosing joy for 2017! You look lovely and the snow is so pretty too. xo
Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year, Patti! You should see the snow that came upon us yesterday! We are currently buried in about 2 1/2 FEET of snow with more coming our way! Oh, the joys of the lake effect snow belt!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
Love your dress, the print is so pretty. Happy New Year!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Emma! I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Paula
Hi Shelbee! Your shop looks amazing! I wish you much success with it!
Joy is a perfect word for the New Year 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Paula! I am hoping the same! 😉
I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sheela Goh
I’m choosing hope. And courage. Hope for a calm 2017, and courage to take the right steps towards achieving hope whenever possible 🙂 I’ve also chosen to not make resolutions this year, I fail miserably each time anyways. Instead, I’ve quantified my aspirations, pegging a number to each one of them, in the hopes that’ll make me feel far more accountable GRIN
p/s that Blush Pink Polka Dot Dress is charming!!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I love your outlook for 2017, Sheela! Thank you for sharing it with me. I never make resolutions either. But this year I felt like I should make it a point to try to choose Joy over all negative things. It is so easy to feel like we are drowning in the negative, but I really believe that we can control our attitudes and choose the way we want to feel in general! Yes, I am sure there will be bad days, but if I continue to remind myself to choose Joy, I will just be that much better off!
And yes, isn’t that polka dot dress adorable? I wish it were in my size! Although I have already pilfered many pieces from my shop for my own sartorial use! Ha! Now I need to start writing posts featuring more of my items! I just put a huge order today, so many more pretty things are coming!
I wish you a very happy New Year filled with courage and calm!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqueline
What a great message! Your floral dress is so perfect! Love how you styled it!
xo,
Jacqueline
Stylin In St. Louis
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Jacqueline! I wish you a very happy and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Julie
That’s such a great story. We should all choose Joy just a little more. Beautiful bracelets too.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Julie! My next bracelet is going to say “Choose Joy”! I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lisa/Syncopated Mama
Woo-hoo for a year filled with joy! Happy New Year and so happy you joined us again at #FridayFrivolity!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am so happy to be back at it! Thanks for stoping by, Lisa. And I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rena
marvelous story and I’ve been right there with you in holiday funk for the better part of the last two weeks of 2016. I’m glad that ‘joy’ has returned to you as it has for me. I adore your dress and I wanted to buy it for myself but they were out of my size (didn’t get around to looking for it on-line). thank you for sharing your challenge and for adding your post to my Fine-Whatever link up.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Rena! I am seriously obsessed with winter florals right now. I feel so feminine and whimsical when wearing them! Focusing on joy is key for me right now. My husband is leaving for 9 weeks very soon and I have that little bit of anxiety and depression taking a hold of me right now, too! But I am setting goals for things I need to accomplish while he’s gone. Hopefully, I can stick to it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lorena
Very pretty dark floral print dress, I particularly like the contrast with the light longer shaped cardigan.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Lorena! This is one of my favorite cardigans, for sure.
xoxo
Shelbee
SincerelyMissJ
Happy New Year! Love your dress!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so very much, Miss J! I wish you a very happy, healthy, and joyful New Year as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sarah @ Bows & Clothes
I love the long cardigan with the dress so much! Lovely!
Thank you so much for linking up at Grace + Lace!
Sarah
Bows & Clothes
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Sarah, thank you so much for your wonderful comment!
xoxo
Shelbee
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