If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.
My favorite part of Goodreads is the quote library. This LARGE collection of quotes is organized by tags and the topics are many. Additionally, you can create your own list of favorites and that is my favorite part. I spent a lot of time last summer just reading thorough the short words of others and setting some aside in a favorites folder. Well, okay, 630 are saved in my favorites folder but that's still "some". Besides being able to store words that matter to you, you can also subscribe to a daily quote delivered to your email inbox. And that brings me to the words above.....
This comment from Zola showed up my Goodreads email the other day. It's not the first time I have read it yet, just as in every other time I have seen it, it caused me to pause. There is something very attractive about these words. I know that the quote is translated from the original French and so may have been altered somewhat in that process but, even so, it gives me reason to reflect.
Artist or no artist, I like the idea of living out loud. I have just a whimper of what those three words might mean but they do motivate me. "Living out loud" suggests that I will tell the secrets in my head. I will tell the secrets in words and in paint and sometimes with a camera. I can share the words, colors, textures, and images but they don't have to be shared. I can say them. I can live out loud. I may or may not be understood but I can be heard. And living out loud is not necessarily about living loudly. One can live out loud with whispers.
Living out loud takes courage. When scared or discouraged, I would prefer to hide. I would rather disappear. I imagine going away and being in silence. Regrouping, renewing, recharging - call it whatever you want but that time is marked by silence. And when the time is right, I emerge and live out loud again, taking chances on telling my secrets.
Can you hear my secrets?
This comment from Zola showed up my Goodreads email the other day. It's not the first time I have read it yet, just as in every other time I have seen it, it caused me to pause. There is something very attractive about these words. I know that the quote is translated from the original French and so may have been altered somewhat in that process but, even so, it gives me reason to reflect.
Artist or no artist, I like the idea of living out loud. I have just a whimper of what those three words might mean but they do motivate me. "Living out loud" suggests that I will tell the secrets in my head. I will tell the secrets in words and in paint and sometimes with a camera. I can share the words, colors, textures, and images but they don't have to be shared. I can say them. I can live out loud. I may or may not be understood but I can be heard. And living out loud is not necessarily about living loudly. One can live out loud with whispers.
Living out loud takes courage. When scared or discouraged, I would prefer to hide. I would rather disappear. I imagine going away and being in silence. Regrouping, renewing, recharging - call it whatever you want but that time is marked by silence. And when the time is right, I emerge and live out loud again, taking chances on telling my secrets.
Can you hear my secrets?
Such beautiful, heartfelt art and such words! I love "One can live out loud in whispers." That resonates with me. I don't subscribe to the notion that living out loud necessarily means being in everyone's faces all the time. Some people are made for that, but not me. Sometimes a silent gesture is deafening in its import.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It never ceases to amaze me when someone else likes my art. and agreed about the impact of silence - silence can be a powerful voice, indeed.
DeleteJT: That picture of me in the snow, just before you get to my morning piece, is me living out loud in whispers, on my way to bring in the wood, and empty the compost. And then the whispers broke out into cries of desperation, and my seven siblings rode their white horses to mine and Matchu's rescue.
ReplyDeleteWhen did we rescue you and Mattie?
DeleteLiving out loud is a wonderful thing and has such personal meaning to each. To me living out loud means living the convictions of my heart without feeling embarrassed or shame. Thank you for giving me something to think about.
ReplyDeleteFor sure, living out loud is still and always about being okay with who you are. But first you have to know that. Thank YOU for adding to the conversation.
DeleteI cut that quote out of construction paper letters and hung it on my wall years ago. I'm with you on "loud" not necessarily being about volume. For me, it's definitely more along the lines of what Judy said: being as true to myself as I can find a way to be.
ReplyDeleteThe photography and art is evocative as always. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Thank YOU for stopping by. I like those words. Isn't it funny how words can have an impact, even if you can't put your finger on why? Ditto with art and photography.
DeletePS--I had a GoodReads account at one point. I got distracted by my off-screen life before I got very far, but liked what I did see and may go back now and poke around a bit. ;)
ReplyDeleteHa! I have it on my to do list to spend more time at Goodreads too -- but then I also have about 3, 487 books on my to read list.....
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