Fountains at dusk in Casino square in Monaco

Flamboyant is one of my favorite ‘F-words’, and that’s why it’s the ‘F-Word of the Day’. Why?  I think because I’ve always identified with flamboyant characters. I admire their flare, their flaunting of convention and their feistiness.  To me, Monaco and the district of Monte Carlo are the very definition of the word flamboyant!  Don’t you love this photo of the fountains in front of the Casino at Monte Carlo?

When I was a kid, and my sister and I used to ‘play house’ she was always the ‘mom’ with 7 babies… She had all the accessories – our grandfather made a little wooden fridge, stove and sink for us – but she was really the one who played with it.  And then she had the little Suzy Homemaker stuff – the ironing board and iron, the broom and dustpan, the dishes, all of it.  And for her babies she had the cribs, the changing tables, the little table and chairs for tea parties… But me? I was the ‘maiden aunt’ – who just flew in from Hong Kong.  I’d sit down and have a cup of pretend tea, and listen for a little while about her babies, and then I’d ‘take off for the airport’ to catch a plane for Monte Carlo.  Who knew that one day visiting Monte Carlo whenever I wanted was going to become a reality? Then again, if you believe in the Law of Attraction, maybe you could say that I knew, because this is the life that I was attracting for myself and my future – even back then!

Original Poster for the Broadway production of 'Auntie Mame"

One of my favorite books when I was a kid was ‘Auntie Mame’ – a book written by author Patrick Dennis in 1955.  It was a ‘runaway hit’ – and sold over 2 million copies during it’s first print.

Mame was later adapted for the stage by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The original Broadway production starred Rosalind Russell in the title role.  Ms. Russell reprised her role for the movie which was released by Warner Bros. in 1958.

Although I haven’t seen Mame in probably 25 years, I still vividly remember the character and her flamboyant lust for life and determination to live life on her own terms…

And today I’ve decided that I’m going to do one ‘flamboyant’ thing every day from now on.  Just for the fun of it!

What were your favorite books or movies when you were a kid? What characters did you identify with the most?

If flamboyant isn’t an F-Word you’re comfortable reinventing in your life or your business, what word fits with your vision, goals and plans for your life?  And are you willing to make a commitment to add it to your vocabulary and your actions every day – especially if it gets you closer to living your ideal lifestyle?