Monday Message 8/11/25

Happy Monday, everyone! And welcome to the SHINE…😂 I am currently preparing to release a new version of my book, and in celebration I’m going to share the things I love about it and try to convince you that it’s really a book for adults who need to be reminded of their own magic.😉

A few things about the book that I haven’t shared before… when I started painting the aliens, I knew I was complete at 16. But, I needed more illustrations to fill the pages that had only text. So instead of painting more, I took close up pictures of certain parts of the paintings instead. Now every page is super colorful, and if you look closely you can match the background to a specific spot on the alien. The quote above goes with the alien Chairo (aka Big Yellow), who was created specifically for one of my early investors (thank you, friend, you are a gift!). Here’s Chairo (which means “to rejoice” in Greek…)

My adult take on this passage from the book… I don’t love you because of how you look, what fancy clothes you do or don’t wear, your age, weight, gender, or race. I love you because of your shine… that little light inside of you that is so very uniquely YOU.

I was in a meeting a few weeks ago, and someone said that “you are exactly what God had in mind when he made you”. THAT. That’s your shine. And I believe that when you share it, other people feel joy. They feel hope. When you express yourself, authentically, it gives others permission to be authentic, too. And boy do we need more hope, joy, and SHINE!

This is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to these aliens… the belief that shining my light will change the world for the better. Creating and sharing these beings is pure joy for me, and feels so true. At times, it feels like this is EXACTLY what I was born to do.

Of course, my logical mind has other ideas about my life path, as it always does. Just the other day, Pete (who has written and produced an entire album of spiritual hip-hop/rap of all things) and I were talking about how much joy the aliens and the rap bring us, and how CRAZY we must look to people who knew us when we were operating on hearts and bones in our medical days. But holy hell we are so much happier! And if sharing my authentic joy gives even ONE person permission to shine their light, then it will have been more than worth it.

So, in case you need to hear it, I love your shine. It’s SO beautiful! Not because it’s shiny and new, but because of the joy and the hope that it brings. I love it because your shine is YOU. Now go share your beautiful shine!

With love,

Peyton