I know I do.

And rarely does it make any difference in my life.

This past year was a little different, though. And I hope to keep it up in the 2012.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m pretty much the last person to give advice about exercise. But for some reason this past year I started walking and then, recently, with winter around the corner, I joined a gym.

What was key to my success (so far! this could change at any time!) was to have pretty low and flexible expectations for myself. Instead of resolving to exercise six times a week for an hour each time, I just tried to get out and walk as fast as I could for as long as I wanted. Usually it wasn’t even that much!

The effect has been great for me. I feel much more energetic and happier as a result. (And I’m told I look better, so maybe that’s true, too.)

So I guess the lesson is to start small and be reasonable about what you can accomplish. Those of us with work and family commitments need to try to squeeze in what we can, when we can — and then congratulate ourselves making such efforts to be kind to our bodies.

That in a nutshell is my exercise resolution for 2012.

What’s yours?

Are you a cautious person?

I know I am. Someone I used to work with often teased me for being risk- and change-averse. And it’s true.

In matters of personal style, though, I often think it makes sense to throw caution to the wind. Here’s how I look at it. What if you were to try something different — two colors (or three!) together. Or the addition of a jacket with an outfit you’ve never worn that way. Or, say, a shoe that doesn’t “match” the rest of your outfit but that pleases you nonetheless in that combination.

Really — what’s the worst that could happen? Will people line up in the street to jeer you? Will you lose your job, your dignity ….? Of course not!

So why are we so afraid to take risks? What’s the worst that could happen? We all make mistakes — it’s just that in this arena, our mistakes only last as long as it takes to get back home and change our clothes.

But on the up side — when we take those risks, we sometimes discover things about ourselves we never knew before.

Like, for instance, that we look awesome in that particular shade of green. That our red shoe looks amazing with our purple dress — and everyone seems to agree. Or we look good in that kind of hat, something we’ve never worn. I often hear a complaint from my clients that they have no style — and my standard response is that they simply need to be a little less careful, to add that something extra to their outfit — even if they’re a littl unsure about it.

So next year, let’s all resolve to take a few more risks.

Try a new hairstyle (it will grow back!) or highlights. Go crazy with nail color. Add a layer or an accessory to your outfit before walking out the door. Buy a handbag in a … gasp! … color! And please, let me know how your risk-taking works!

(Note: Images are, from top, from B. Jones Style, Style & Pepper, and Fashion for Nerds — personal style blogs by three fantastically creative women.)

Most of all, I’m a big fan of color that suits a person’s coloring.

Do you know what your best colors are? If not, make 2012 the year you resolve to identify your best colors and then actually wear them. The reason? You’ll look younger, prettier, more energetic, better rested and happier. You’ll probably look smarter, too. (Why not?!) I even believe personally (though I have zero evidence to back this up) that we respond emotionally to our best colors. (For instance, the watermelon color in my logo thrills me every time I see it.)

What color makes you happy?

And why wait to get started? Experiment in the next few days with unexpected combinations of colors, just to get you underway in this endeavor. For inspiration, take a look at your favorite personal-style blogs (this image comes from a favorite of mine, Kendi Everyday), the built environment, and the natural world.

I just adore the start to a new year.

The start of a new year makes everything feel all fresh and new … as if all things are possible. And they really are!

Sure, there are things we can’t change about our lives, but there is a whole lot that we can.

What do you want to change in the coming year?

To get us all started thinking a little more about that, I offer this challenge: Spend the next 12 days with the idea at the back of your mind that you can make changes … you just have to figure out what they are.

Here’s mine for today: Come up with my 3 words.

Let me explain.

A couple years ago I stumbled across this marketing expert‘s idea — come up with three words that would serve as an intention for the following year, like this and this. I love this idea! Just come up with three words you hope will be an expression of you (your self, your goals, your desires) for 2012. Go ahead! (And please leave a comment to let me know what they are — I would love to hear, especially since I am still working on my 3 words.)

Recently, I came across a website that I just love.

I love it so much I bought the book, too: Operation Beautiful, one woman’s mission to change the negative self-talk so many women have.

I mention this because her message and movement dovetail perfectly with what I try to tell my clients: Embrace who you are right now. Stop believing you need to wait for something to happen in order to feel beautiful.

Here’s a nugget from Caitlin Boyle, the woman behind Operation Beautiful:

And my favorite (of course):
“Take pride in your physical appearance, no matter what your size, age, look, or shape. It can feel so wonderful to wear a flattering shirt, a beautiful necklace, or a killer pair of heels. Take the time to choose outfits that makes you feel special or treat yourself to small pleasures, like facials or manicures. This is about defining your own version of beautiful and celebrating your body….”

Does this message resonate with you? How do you keep this kind of positive self-talk in your head? I’d love to hear about it — leave me a comment here and tell me what you think!

(Photo courtesy Stacie Mooney, available here.)

The issue: holding on to clothes from 20 and even more years ago.

Have you faced this? Clothes from college (when you are more than a couple years out of college)? Your letter sweater, but now you’re 40 (or more)?

What’s really going on here? It is the actual piece of clothing that’s so hard to part with? No, of course not. It’s all the feelings it represents — who we WERE when we first wore that piece of clothing. It’s that nostalgia for a past self that’s difficult.

I never, ever push a client to get rid of these pieces. It would be like asking her to part with a treasured photograph. Instead, we talk it through … what was this piece for? What does it mean to her? Will she ever wear it again? If not, would she want to store it somewhere out of sight? Together, we find a solution to the problem of clothes front and center in the closet that she’ll never wear again. The idea is for her to feel lighter, freer, happier without them … never to feel regret over something she loved and let go and now misses.

That’s why she has a gorgeous watermelon vintage coat hanging in her closet, even though she’s given away a dozen or more now-oversize sweaters. She just loves it so much and can’t let it go. And if it makes her happy to look at it in her closet, then it makes me happy, too.

Finally, though, in the waning days of summer … here it is! (Anthropologie clearly doesn’t want me to put a picture on my site, though.) And the best part is that it will do nicely in the early part of the Fall.

What have you been toting your sunscreen in this summer?

Those who know me know I adore jewelry, and clients know I am always on the lookout for cute jewelry that makes a big impact at a low price point. These pieces fit the bill. I quickly found what I wanted for myself (in Eucalyptus). (Very, very unfortunately, I was unable to find any pictures I could upload here.) Even though I liked it right away, I wasn’t sure it would look great with a lot of stuff I own, but it turns out that because it’s in the right colors (for me), and so are most my clothes, it looks great with a lot. I also splurged on this (in coral). It’s got a great hippie vibe, which I love.

A few other favorites are here and here.

The best part of the jewelry is that it is made in Ecuador by women artisans from renewable resources, namely, tagua and acai nuts. As the company’s owner described it, the tagua nuts are harvested twice a year, shaken down by men who climb the trees for that purpose. Everything about the nuts that aren’t used for jewelry are used for something else, either fertilizer or other things. The jewelry has empowered the women artisans to buy things for their families they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. All this, and the jewelry looks great, too!

What’s your favorite looks-great clothing or accessories that also has a great story behind it?

(Ketura Persellin is a DC-based image consultant and personal stylist. Contact her for a complimentary session designed to identify that strategy that will most easily get you the style you’ve always wanted.)

Shoe diversity by KeturaP featuring open toe pumpsS

Some women are more adventurous with their clothes than with their shoes — they realize the don’t want only black dresses, pants and T-shirts, but they don’t quite see that the same principle applies to their shoes, too.

My advice for this type of woman is to start slowly. You don’t want to shock your system. Consider a nude heel, the shoe of the moment. There are variations at all price points and heel heights. They look fresh and modern with almost everything. The other shoes to have are some sort of animal-textured heel or ballet flat. They’ll go with almost everything, too — and add immediate interest to your go-to basics. (Just don’t be afraid to mix them with other prints, too.)

From there, you can just go crazy — a colored ballet flat, metallic sandals, colored strappy heels. Go crazy!

What’s your most adventurous shoe, and how do you wear it? Leave me a comment and let me know — I want to hear about it!

(Need help finding the best shoes? Ketura Persellin is an image consultant and stylist in Washington, DC, and area suburbs.)