LOL With Catherine Denton

June 5, 2013 ~ Sophie ~ 3 Comments

Our next guest in the LOL series is Catherine, someone who has been personally inspiring ever since I found her blog. This is what Living out loud to her is:

Hi, I’m Catherine! I love to write, paint and photograph fairies. I’m an avid reader of how-to books, memoirs and children’s fantasy. I get uneasy when there are no books on hold for me at the library. I have a deathly fear of heights which developed late in life and I may’ve had a tiny meltdown hiking through the Grand Canyon (just ask the two old men I croaked to, “Please step away from the edge!”). I love all veggies ~ except beets. I love to relax with a hot bath, new paintbrushes, snuggles, homemade gingersnaps, family, and coffee anything.

I love this concept of living out loud. To me, living out loud is simply: to love extravagantly. It’s going out of your way, sacrificing wants, and reaching out when no one’s reaching in. I have fumbled along and loved hesitantly, conditionally, minimally; but to love extravagantly is something I’m still aiming for.

Four years ago, one of my dearest friends found out she had cancer and after she told me, I busied myself for a few weeks and avoided her. I eventually came back around and apologized for deserting her. She told me she assumed I was dealing with the hard news the best way I knew how. Even in her darkest moment, she didn’t hold it against me or refuse relationship based on my reaction. She loved me in spite of my actions and was willing to hold out her hand when I came back. That’s extravagant.

Her reaction changed my perspective of love. It taught me honesty at a level I had never experienced. It made me realize that living out loud meant grabbing hold of each moment (including the bad ones) and considering those in the moment with you. It meant offering grace and laying out your heart at the cost of rejection.

My friend eventually passed away. I was there beside her in the last months, weeks, and days. She’d shown me what it meant to be brave in the face of fear. She walked that path ahead of me and put footprints in the sand of where I needed to go. There is a quote I love from Natalie Babbitt in Tuck Everlasting that completely describes my friend, “Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.” And she did.

And I want to.

On this pursuit of living out loud, remember to love extravagantly. Go beyond what is expected, reach beyond what is sought, and forgive what hasn’t been asked of you. Don’t be afraid of the unlived life; you have this moment to live it.

Thank you Catherine for sharing your LOL journey. You can find her blog here.

Rain and Summer

May 23, 2013 ~ Sophie ~ Leave a comment

It’s been raining a lot lately and there is something about rain that is so serene and calming to the soul. At least I think so I am particularly a sucker for the after-rain(you know after it rains, the whole environment looks and becomes peaceful and calm…like its been washed clean). It always puts me in a contemplative mood and sparks my dreams of living in the Italian countryside (while baking brick oven bread(I die!), sipping tea and crocheting. Ha!). I have had my fair share of rain. From the surprising ten minute rainfalls to violent terrifying typhoons that last almost a week. From loud hail storms to the rhythmic rainfalls that make you want to sleep like a child. I have had them all. As long as I’m indoors and I’m not being rained on, I heart rainfalls. The beautiful clean feel after it has rained is the most calming and the crystal clear raindrops on plants and flowers…ah! Should I go on? What little natural thing makes you feel at peace?

Someone asked me this week how my summer was so far and here is how I responded “Um…its fine haha…quite boring” He advised me to find a way to make it fun and worthwhile. I have a vague outline of what I’ll be doing. But I will be definitely be getting back on crocheting. The last time I crocheted something meaningful was way back in high school(I know. I also wonder!). I want to try some really complex patterns. I would also like to try weaving. I know I sound so way out of my head but I have been dreaming of weaving so much lately. I will also be writing proposals for my business(entrepreneur right there) and giving them out to potential funders and probably work on a new design for Rare Beauty. And I just got my first summer job. It’s not big but its promising and motivating too. What are your summer plans?

🙂

Sophie

On Being Sincere

May 8, 2013 ~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

Recently I have been contemplating on what to do for summer. After the first two weeks boredom can really start to grow on you and I don’t want that to happen because I believe in the saying ‘Time is gold’. So in my consistent search for what I am to do in this long holiday, I found this blog. Well actually I got the url from my friend and schoolmate and I thought I would share it here. It’s like an online diary. Something I really love about her is the fact that she is a sincere person. Sincerity is something I have struggled with. Sometimes(most of the times) I am afraid that people will not be able to understand me and will simply just ignore what I have to say. In this fast paced blog world where every corner has a blog that is waiting to be read, one can be swept away by the multitude and forget the real meaning behind every written word. It is something that requires a lot of confidence and I am learning to do on a daily basis and I know it will take a long time to fully grasp the essence of being sincere. It is one thing I want to accomplish in the course of writing this blog. One thing I am grateful for is the fact that there are people like Diane to remind us what life is truly about. Being sincere because that is what really counts.

We were talking summer activities. I don’t know how I got carried away but yep I just had to let it out.

What activities do you suggest I can do(so blank here!)

🙂

Sophie