grab the hat and go.

i read this on my friend's blog and it gave me a feeling of renewal and appreciation.  

friends, i'm putting on my purple hat, once and for all.

from the book Daughters of God by M. Russell Ballard:

Age 3: She looks at herself and sees a queen.

Age 8: She looks at herself and sees Cinderella.

Age 15: She looks at herself and sees an ugly duckling.

Age 20: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too straight/too curly," but decides to go out anyway.

Age 30: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too straight/too curly," but decides she doesn't have time to fix it so she goes out anyway.

Age 40: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too straight/too curly," but says "At least I'm clean" and goes out anyway.

Age 50: She looks at herself and says "I am what I am" and goes wherever she wants to go.

Age 60: She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.

Age 70: She looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter, and ability and goes out and enjoys life.

Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.

"The moral is, maybe we should all grab that purple hat a little earlier."