Live Life as if You Were in a Movie

A few years ago, a friend and I were walking through Central Park in New York. It was a crisp afternoon in October, and the rust-colored leaves that had fallen from the trees were piled high on the ground. I couldn't resist myself, and I ran into the ocean of leaves, kicking them around and watching them fly in the air. My friend, who had held back, laughed and said, "You live life like you're in a movie." It was the highest compliment he could've paid me.

I live for those "movie moments." You know, those grand moments of exuberance and passion that are not just movie-worthy, they make it into the trailers. Tim Robbins holding his arms up in the rain in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. Jennifer Beals dancing her heart out in her FLASHDANCE audition. And on the small screen, Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat in the air. That's life as it should be.

So should you run around in the rain, throwing your articles of clothing in the air? Maybe. But that's not what Fong Shui is all about. Instead, it's about refashioning "the look" of your life. To make it dramatic. Heartstopping. Beautiful. So when those movie moments do come along, you, my friend, will be ready for your close-up.

1. Fill your home with flowers.

The next time you're watching a movie or TV show (or even a commercial), notice how many flowers are on the screen. Usually, there are flowers in the character's kitchen, on the dining room table, on the nightstand. The director is always putting flowers in the shot, even if it doesn't make sense for the character. In the movie HANGING UP, Meg Ryan's character is overworked and on the verge of a breakdown, yet she always has the most gorgeous arrangement of roses by her bedside.

2. Get a dog or cat.

When someone in a movie or TV show has a dog or cat, it usually implies he or she is a warm, caring person with a welcoming home. You rarely see villains with pets, except maybe James Bond's arch enemies.

3. Get rid of clutter

You never see junk like old newspapers and discarded ATM receipts in the homes of those on the big or little screen. Okay, you might if Dateline is doing a report on compulsive disorders.

4. Use lots of color

White tends to photograph poorly on film. That's why movie homes are so colorful. White does have its place, however, when stark drama is needed. In this case, however, white is used to convey a feeling, not because the set designer was too lazy to paint.