Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Sarah Stevens

 I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Sarah Stevens from {Vie Boheme}

Hi Sarah , tell us a little about yourself. Asides from your blog, what else do you do?

 
Thank you so much for having me beautiful Pixie Polly! I'm honored that you've invited me to your table to chat.

 

Let's see. Right now, I'm a non-traditional student at Portland State University and I'm working on my last year of school before getting my Bachelor of Arts in Studio Practices. I spend the bulk of my time these days researching and working on art projects in the painting studio. But I'm also a photographer & mama to a very special 4 year old named Skye. For the past year, I've been involved in the exciting process of starting my own business, {Vie Boheme} Photography.

Is the life you lead now the life you've always dreamt of?

You know--it's funny you should you ask. Eleven years ago I dreamed of attending school to get a degree in art; envisioned myself painting in a studio until late in the night and going to lectures by important contemporary artists. And a couple days ago, as I carried an awkwardly large drawing portfolio and two bags of art supplies across campus, a sudden wave of clarity overtook me.

Not only had I stayed in the studio until 12:30am the previous day, but I had also just recently participated in a lecture by an amazing activist artist! Something about stepping off the curb and looking down the busy Portland street that day was autumn magic. And I finally recognize the truth of my journey--that I am most certainly in the midst of living my dreams.
 

When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going? I adore discussing questions of the heart. My dearest inspirations are art, earth, music, family and friends. They are my soul mates. And, at one time or another, all of these loves and lovers have convinced me to keep fighting the good fight. In the dark times, they chorus my soul's mission of purpose. That I exist for a reason. And that I am here to spread light even in the darkness. Love is nuzzled at the core of everything I do. And I believe that peace will prevail over difficulty, even in my own heart. Most of all, it is my peaceful idealism, a vision of the best of all possible worlds, that keeps me afloat during difficult times.

Fear affects us all at some point. What part has fear played in your life and how have you overcome it?

When I was 15, I was diagnosed with manic depression. Recently, I was diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD as well. I know fear so intimately that sometimes getting out of bed feels like a battle. But, I refuse to let it rule my life! And, I've learned a host of tools and tricks for keeping my fears in their proper place. In fact, I don't believe fear is something that needs to be overcome at all. It just needs to be firmly guided.

For me, that means cultivating a healthy relationship with my fears. I do my best to stay grounded in practices that nourish my soul. Art. Yoga. Exercise. Organic foods. Time in nature. Time with family. Journaling. Meditation. Lots of water. Good music. Friends. Dancing. Travel. Exploration. Deep breathing. Education.

The more I lean into these practices in my life, the more the fear changes from a thundering loud voice, to just a restless whisper. Of course, she's always there. But, when I'm doing my soul's work, the things that are good for my body and mama earth, I am more inclined to look on my fears with love and patience than with anger or contempt. And, when I listen to my fears lovingly, my decisions regarding her advice are much healthier.
 

What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

Living a life of your dreams means putting everything you've got toward your vision. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Paper cuts. Late nights. All of it! It takes tenacity and the certitude that you are working toward something meaningful. Your inner demons are your worst critics and they will try to get the best of you. Don't let them. Take good care of yourself. The world needs you at your best.

We each only get this one chance at this one particular beautiful life to make it worthwhile. Once you commit to following your heart, you've got to hold onto your dream with everything you've got. Don't ever give up! And always remember that you are gorgeous, brave and as worthy as anyone on this planet to make your wildest dreams come true!  

What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

Definitely Love. Creativity. And connection with nature. If we treat mama earth with love and respect, she showers us with fruit and makes our lives infinitely rich. When we pursue the cosmic creative spark that animates us and all things, we find joys beyond our wildest dreams. And when our hearts are grounded in love, we can heal the world.

 

Where can we connect with you?

Fall quarter has been super busy for me. Unfortunately my online time is limited until December. But, I check my e-mail every day. And you can still connect with me at my blog, {Vie Boheme} and at Light Chasing. Or you can catch me on facebook, twitter, and flickr.

Thanks Sarah!

Living Life Your Way.... Interview with Jenn Gibson

I've been working hard the last few months at overcoming my fears and following my dreams. So I'm running a series of interview with inspiring people to see what part fear has played in their life and how they've overcome it to live life their way...

This weeks interview is with Jenn Gibson from Kind Over Matter

*Hi Jenn, tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a photographer and writer, and one-half of the duo that created Kind Over Matter. I like to paint words on rocks and then tell stories of what those words mean to me. I'm a lacto-vegetarian with a healthy obsession for Mexican food and I will never give up cheese, quite possibly because of that. I steal snuggles from Bean the Boy Kitten. Daily parts of my life are paper journaling, talking to my dear sweet momma and sky-gazing. The beach owns me, lock-stock-and-barrel. I'm happier right now than I've ever been before and every day I give thanks for it all.

*What is the inspiration behind Kind Over Matter?

Amanda and I started Kind Over Matter almost two years ago, she had made some printable kind cards for her Etsy shop and sent me a few. We got to talking and decided to make a group on Flickr, to pool all of the photos, then we decided to make a blog. The rest, as they say, is history.

The core of Kind Over Matter is rooted deeply in celebrating the everyday type of kindness, the things that most people don’t actively notice but that make a difference – holding the door open for someone, offering a smile, engaging someone in a quiet kind of conversation, letting them be heard. So often that can make all the difference in someone’s day, I know it has in mine.

*Aside from Kind Over Matter what else do you do?

Mmm, lots of things! I love to make videos and take photos. I’m gathering ideas for my next video and so excited to share it with everyone. I dusted off my blog and have started writing again, sharing my thoughts and parts of my journey, I’ve missed writing so much, it feels amazing to get back to it. I love roadtripping – over the summer I went out to Tennessee and visited my Sister Sara -- so fun! But all of that aside, the main thing I’m doing right now is trying to find balance and I’ve been lucky enough to work with an awesome life coach, Danette has been such a blessing through this discovery period. She’s just the best.

*When you have faced difficulties, what has been your inspiration to keep going?

Sometimes the only thing that kept me going was the deep-seated belief that tomorrow would be better. Trusting in that and living inside each moment as best as I can, those help when things get tough.

*All of us have our fears, some rule stronger than others. What part has fear played in your life?

Fear has played a huge part in my life. I’ve lived with anxiety since I was 7 and for a very long time it controlled me, it designated where (and if) I went, how long I stayed, what I ate. My dad died when I was 21, for months after that I wouldn’t leave the house, with the sole exception of going to work, if that. I was terrified that something would happen to my family, I needed to be there to take care of them, I had to be there. Breaking out of that frame of mind was so hard and I’m so thankful that I was working with a grief counselor through that period, she was so gentle and careful with me. I was fragile, I was broken and had no idea how to fix things. Until one day, I wanted to drive up to this place outside Baltimore, there were waterfalls and I’d always gone there for a spot of peace. At that time I was living an hour away, so you can imagine how enormous even the thought of doing that was. But I got in my car, shaking and crying the whole way. I got there, stayed for a few minutes and then turned around and went home. I was terrified. I was proud of myself. My first victory, but not my last.

Each victory has been celebrated, each moment held dear.

And because I shared all of that, the beginning and middle, I want to share, not the end, but the present, where things are now. Two years ago I did cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. You see, I get the most wonderful cases of wanderlust and I sometimes need to drive places, far places, to see what’s out there, to experience life somewhere else, for a day or a week. That’s such a fundamental part of who I am. But, I wanted to go other places, overseas, and that required me getting on a plane. Which I’d never done. Which scared me to pieces. I would not get on a plane, even driving to an airport would cause really high levels of anxiety. I wanted this to change, though, I wanted to not live in fear anymore. So I did CBT and things were rolling along merrily, I made tentative plans to fly somewhere, but then I was told I was going to San Diego, for work. I’d have to fly across the country. I was terrified. I was thrilled. I was ready. The picture up at the top of this post, I took this when I was at the Pacific Ocean. This photo shows you how hard I’ve worked for the past 25 years on living with and overcoming anxiety. This photo is my triumph.

*What advice would you offer on following your heart and living your dreams?

The same thing I tell myself : Be brave, be fearless. We’re only here for a short time, go all out, live without regrets. If you fail, try again, and then try again.

*What do you think are the three most important things you need to lead a happy and radiant life?

Oh wow, hard to whittle it down to just three. I’d have to say, for me, those three things are eating really amazing tasty food, honoring my Truths and Values and creating things, anything. Those are the most important.

*Where can we connect with you?

You can find me writing at This Messy Life and Kind Over Matter, on Twitter and Facebook, and Flickr and Vimeo.

Stop over and say hi, I’d love to meet you!

list 5: things i think are sexy

• piercings
• shyness
• whispering
• tattoos
• scars that show your history
• dreads
• cut off jeans
• being barefoot
• laying naked, wrapped in a blanket in front of the fire
• the anticipation of a first kiss

List 4: Things I love

in no particular order

•  choco tea

• scarves

• being barefoot

• tattoos

•  incense 

• coffee

• imperfection

• Kerouac

• dancing in the rain

• junk shops

• bonfires

• expressing yourself

• late, late nights

• authenticity

• books

• impulsiveness

• escaping Time

• candles

(4 down.... 48 to go!)

List 3: Things to be thankful for

:: My 3 beautiful daughters

:: A husband who works so I can stay home with the girls

:: The time to paint and create

:: The lovely people I’ve met through this virtual world

:: And the lovely people I've met in the real world

:: Finding myself, regardless of the pain from leaving the past behind

:: The freedom to unschool my girls

:: A world of limitless possibilities

I can go from being all "Happy, Happy" one day, to totally and utterly miserable the next. At times like that it's hard to see that there is beauty and good all around me. I might add to this list as I think of more, just to remind myself that life is good ALL the time x

Live a passionate life

Embrace each day as if it were the lst. Follow your heart and dream big. Live consciously and enthusiastically with your focus on what you can bring to the moment. Life is precious. Each heartbeat is a gift. Allow care, compassion, empathy, understanding, forgivesness, generosity, and kindness to guide your decisions, actions and life.