laugh out love

Well that was crazy! A whole week passed without my blog posts ever popping up in your inbox. Do not worry, your computer isn’t on the fritz. I simply have not posted recently. I am struggling to find the balance between blogging and working on my book. {Still weird to say that.}

When I set aside the time to write, I am getting so excited about book content that I find myself losing time to write for you guys. But…I have not forgotten you, promise.

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Remember way back when, over a year ago, when I told you the blog was getting a face lift? Oh, no? You mean you don’t remember every minute detail mentioned in this little corner of the world? 

I am aghast.

Well…it is actually in the works now. There are many exciting things going on around here and I can’t wait to fill you all in. More on that later.

For tonight, I want to ask you a question: How many times a day do you feel truly seen? Seen. As in “I see your heart and I like it.” Or “Your awesomeness is showing and I can’t get enough of it.” Or “Christ is radiating out of your eyes and mouth like a lighthouse on fire!”

How many times a day? Do you need me to make it a week? 

If answering this question is difficult, I would like to ask you to consider why this is so. What is it about your day or your week that you do not feel acknowledged for who you are? What is it about the way that you’re living that your authenticity and amazing-ness as a person seems overlooked?

As many of you know, I have been doing this insane instagram challenge for the month of October with an amazing fellow yogi. [If you want to get caught up on that madness…find me here: @emilylorin]

She has asked us to write love letters to ourselves, make ridiculous, awful faces, laugh out loud, and be, painly, completely authentic and raw. And speaking of raw…the challenge also includes the caveat of doing these videos first thing in the morning. No make up. No hair did. No masks. If videos had scent I’d imagine all of us yogis would be overpowering the waves with morning breath. ::eesh:: Or worse…coffee breath. 

What has been so interesting (beside the emotional turmoil and growth I have experienced) is your reactions to these videos! You guys love this stuff! The emails I have received has been amazing!

You guys LOVE courage!!!

[Not a shocker: Courage is awesome.]

But what I am wondering is…why are we doing this to ourselves? Why are we not being courageous everyday with our souls, with the life within us, with the unique, perfect self that lives within us? Why aren’t we talking about our own self-judgment and the shame we’re lugging around like a comfort blanket laden with shards of glass? 

If I were smart, my guess would be a pretty simple answer: it’s hard and scary shit. This ain’t easy, folks.

NO. Obviously. But neither is hiding in fear and shame and living in the shadows for fear of rejection or the exhaustion from trying to be someone you think others will approve of more. 

Ugh! It makes me want to cry. When will we all start speaking up for ourselves and our neighbor. When will our go-to be not to criticize and judge in order to make ourselves feel better but to embrace, congratulate, celebrate, and applaud each other for being damn good at being JUST YOU!?

So tonight I have a challenge for you! You have all night to prepare for it. I want you to start practicing being unapologetically YOU.

Tomorrow I want you to LAUGH!!! I want you to look in the mirror or [bonus points] turn your phone camera around to face yourself and LAUGH! Belly laugh, roar, snort, whatever you need to do. I’m calling it Laugh Out LOVEMondays. Taylor Swift suggests we “shake it off,” but tomorrow let’s LAUGH it off. 

Laugh out the crazy lies that you just believe for no other reason than the thought crossed your mind. Laugh out judgment for both yourself and others. Laugh out fear and shame. Laugh out criticism and defensiveness. Laugh out pain. 

And then…laugh out LOVE. Love for your lungs, your voice, your belly that allows you to laugh. Love for who you are. Love and gratitude for who the God who designed galaxies intentionally and specifically designed you to be.

And when you’re done….and you can’t laugh anymore, when you go to take that big, deep breath at the end, breathe in a big, ol’, whopping breath of appreciation and relief. 

You can let it all go now.

Enjoy your day.

I want to see you laugh. I want to see you be silly and enjoy yourself. Show me your courage. Tag @emilylorin, #LaughOutLoveMondays and #CourageousOne {Yes, I am even giving you my beloved courageous hashtag for this. Do not take that lightly. I freaking love you guys.}And then tag a friend (or five). Give them permission to be courageous too!

That’s all. Happy New Week. You’re alive and you’re totally awesome YOU!

Hugs, crazies.