More Than Nail Polish: How My Color Street “Why” Has Changed

Funny how the things we almost don’t do sometimes turn into the things we’re glad we did.

At our most recent Color Street conference, someone suggested a pin swap. The idea was to exchange pins with other stylists, but I wasn’t exactly excited about it.

I mean, I was but what was I going to do with a bunch of pins? Let them collect dust in a drawer somewhere? I just couldn’t see the point.

I was at conference to see my long-distance friends and, of course, tour the home office. That was what I was looking forward to. A pin swap? That was still on the maybe list.

But I decided to participate anyway.

And now I have this wonderful collection of pins, notes, and little reminders of the people I had the pleasure to meet. I’ve turned them into an inspiration board that I can look at while working on my Color Street business.

Looking at it got me thinking about how much this little business has changed over the years. Not just the business itself, but the reasons I continue to do it.

Because my why today looks a whole lot different than it did when I started.

It All Started With an Empty Nest on the Horizon

When I first started with Color Street, my oldest was getting ready to graduate high school and head off to college three hours away.

I knew life was about to look different.

I’d watched other moms fill their newfound free time by working more once their kids left home. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

I was also going to miss the friendships with other moms and all the activities that came with having kids involved in school and other things. There was always something happening, someone to talk to, or somewhere to be.

I didn’t want to lose that sense of connection.

I wanted something of my own. Something fun that would give me opportunities to meet people, make friends, and have a reason to get out and do things.

Enter Color Street.

A good friend introduced me to the products, and I decided to give them a try. I had no idea then that I’d still be doing this more than six years later!

And here’s the funny part: I rarely wore nail polish before joining. Makeup wasn’t really my thing, either.

If you’d told me back then that I’d be sharing beauty products and talking about manicures years later, I probably would have given you a funny look.

Yet here we are!

When My “Why” Became About Retirement

As life changed, so did my reasons for continuing with Color Street.

For a while, my focus shifted toward helping contribute to our family’s retirement fund. My husband worked hard to provide for our family so I could stay home to raise the kids while they were little. And I wanted to do everything that I could to help him retire early.

It felt good to have a goal that was bigger than just me. Something we could work toward together.

That became another reason to keep learning, growing, and putting effort into my business.

But, as I’ve learned, our reasons for doing something don’t always stay the same. Sometimes life changes, and our priorities change right along with it.

Now, My “Why” Is About More Than I Expected

Both of our kids have graduated from college and are out living their own lives. We’re proud of them, of course, but this season of life looks different.

I don’t want my days to revolve around nothing but work and home.

I want friendships with people in a similar stage of life. I want conversations, activities, and experiences that stimulate my brain, make me laugh, and bring me joy.

I want things to look forward to. I want to keep learning. I want to feel connected to other people and have a sense of purpose that belongs to me.

And surprisingly, Color Street continues to give me opportunities to do just that.

Over the years, I’ve met stylists and customers from all across the United States who have become friends. Some of these friendships might never have happened if I hadn’t decided to try something new all those years ago.

That’s something I didn’t necessarily expect when I first started. I was looking for something to fill a little extra time and help me through a new season of life. I didn’t realize how many people I’d meet or how many experiences I’d have along the way.

Turns Out, I Wasn’t Just Getting Nail Polish

The truth is, I still enjoy the products I get to use and share with others. I’ve learned tips and tricks, discovered things I genuinely love, and found joy in helping other people find products that make them feel good, too.

But the products are only part of the story.

There’s the friendship, the laughter, the learning, and the opportunities to do things I might not have tried otherwise.

Take that pin swap, for example.

I went into it thinking I probably wouldn’t know what to do with the pins I received. Instead, I met some interesting people, exchanged pins, and came home with something that means more to me than I expected.

Now, when I look at this collection, I don’t just see pins and cards. I see little reminders of friendships, encouragement, shared experiences, and people I’ve connected with through this business.

Some make me laugh. Some offer a little inspiration. Others remind me of the people behind them.

And to think, I almost skipped the whole thing because I couldn’t figure out what I’d do with a bunch of pins!

Sometimes stepping outside our comfort zone doesn’t lead to some huge, life-changing adventure. Sometimes it leads to a wall full of little reminders that we’re part of something special.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

My “Why” Isn’t Finished Changing

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past six-plus years, it’s that our reasons for doing something can change as our lives change.

What starts as a way to fill an empty space can become a financial goal. What begins as a business opportunity can turn into a source of friendship, personal growth, and joy.

And what looks like a simple little decision can open doors you didn’t even know were there.

Color Street has given me more than nail polish. It’s given me connections, experiences, opportunities to try things outside my comfort zone, and reasons to keep growing in this season of my life.

I started because I didn’t want an empty nest to mean an empty calendar.

Somewhere along the way, I found so much more than something to fill my time.

These days, my why is about having people to connect with, things to look forward to, and opportunities to keep discovering new things about myself. It’s about finding joy in the little things and being willing to say yes, even when something isn’t necessarily my thing.

And who knows what my why will look like a few years from now?

Maybe that’s the fun part. We don’t have to have everything figured out. We just have to be willing to keep showing up and see where life takes us.

What about you? Have you ever started something for one reason and discovered it gave you something completely different? Maybe a hobby turned into a friendship, a job opened an unexpected door, or a simple decision led you somewhere you never imagined.

I’d love to hear your story in the comments!

Until next time, find yourself a minute or two for something that brings you joy. 💗