Why A Pink Door Matters: Small Changes, Shifts
This past winter, I watched the Martha Stewart documentary on Netflix. No matter how you feel about her, Martha’s determination and resiliency are undeniable—and deeply thought-provoking.
One quote in the film really struck me. Reflecting on her many trials—business setbacks, show cancellations, even imprisonment—she said:
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like that garden you planted, rip it out and plant a new one. Change it.”
The Wall I Haven’t Changed (Yet)
I have a wall in my kitchen that I just don’t like. I’ve imagined painting it a bold color, wallpapering it, or hanging a grid of matching frames filled with rotating artwork I’ve made. I’ve done none of those things.
What holds me back? Fear. Fear I won’t like the change. Fear that I should think about it a little more before acting.
Sound familiar?
That Time I Painted My Office Door Bubblegum Pink
One of the best small decisions I ever made was painting the back of my office door bubblegum pink. I thought about it for weeks. Then finally—I just did it.
I even wrote about the experience (scroll down for the original post).
The ironic part? After all that worry and planning, some clients still ask, “Hey, has that door always been pink?” The door has been pink for over four years.
At the time, I worried what people would think. I feared I’d hate it, or that it would be a hassle to change. But most people didn’t even notice. And I ended up loving it.
What If Small Changes Are the Ones That Matter Most?
What do you want to change? What if the most impactful change isn't divorce, a new job, or a life overhaul?
What if it’s:
Starting a vegetable garden
Cutting your hair short
Reading a book at night instead of Netflix
Asking better questions
Taking an 11-minute walk
What if the change you need is small, simple, and entirely within reach?
The Original “Pink Door” Blog
The Pink Door
For months, I had been drawn to bubblegum pink doors. I saw them on blogs, Instagram, in magazines—even unknowingly tore out the same “Berrylicious” pink door from two different magazines.
So I decided to paint my office door pink.
I picked three shades and promised myself I’d choose one—no second guessing, no going back, no switching to yellow. I needed to stay focused: Pink Door. Period.
This small act felt oddly significant. Have you ever noticed how sometimes small decisions feel huge?
The moment you shift from daydreaming into real-life action, a doubtful inner monologue often kicks in:
“Who paints a door pink? Are you seven?”
“What if it looks terrible?”
“What will clients think?”
“Is it too girly?”
“Maybe just leave it as is…”
That’s the fun-sucking side of me—the one that sees danger even in tiny things.
We all have that side. It’s trying to protect us. But it’s worth checking in with the more open, curious, playful side too.
That side sounds more like this:
“A pink door! YES. This will be fun.”
“It’s just paint—it’s okay if I don’t love it.”
“Let’s do this now! Yippee for pink!”
Why Pink Doors Matter
It’s not really about the pink door.
It’s about building your change muscles. If we can’t move forward on the small stuff, the big stuff becomes impossible.
If you only listen to the loudest, most fearful parts of yourself, change will always feel risky. But if you give space to your hopeful, curious parts—you may surprise yourself.
Pink doors matter because they help you:
Trust yourself
Take small risks
Practice resilience
Move from dreaming to doing
What’s Your Version of a Pink Door?
Is there a small change rattling around in your mind?
Maybe you’ve wanted to:
Cut your hair
Speak up more at work
Take an art class
Try vegan recipes
Paint a room
Learn Excel
Get back on your bike
Whatever it is, start small. Start now.
Go get that pink door.
You’ve got this.
—Kate