#151 Photobooth Love

It's no secret I love a photobooth, but how extra gorgeous are these shots from the wedding of Ben + Erin on One Fine Day?

Great unique backdrop & what lovely little marriage celebration snapshots.

  
ben+erin's wedding via one fine day

And that last picture.... too too sweet.

Cx

#104 The Silence Where Sound Should Be

I read something a couple of days ago that bothered me.

The obvious cause was comments regarding asylum seekers, but after some thought I realised that the other reason it irked me was that the comment on "boat people" was a flippant remark included in a piece supporting marriage equality.

I felt that the throw away lines following on from the topic trivialised & undermined the point that was being made.

Sometimes I don't take every opportunity that I should to be vocal about things that are important.

It isn't that I don't have an opinion, & it certainly isn't because I don't care.

I think there are two explanations for my silence at times when I should speak up.

The first is that I worry that I won't be able to express myself eloquently enough, & will do even the slightest damage to the side of a (for lack of a better word) debate that I am passionate about.

The second is that sometimes when things seem so incredibly obvious & simple - that two people in love should have the choice to commit to each other & celebrate that commitment in any way they choose, that it should be recognised by law regardless of whether they have fallen in love with a man or a woman - that I can't see how anyone could possibly disagree.

Especially when there is absolutely nothing to lose & so much to be gained.

Given that it's a somewhat moot point to discuss it purely for the purpose of having someone say 'hear hear' & rather more for the odd chance that someone might pause to examine their way of thinking & consider what it is that they are actually afraid of, I find it difficult to see what I could possibly say to someone who doesn't already see the logic in human rights. Be they rights for the LGBT community or for asylum seekers.

Sometimes people’s ignorance is painful to see & it's easier to ignore, but that doesn't make it the right thing to do.

via - gaping void

I support love.

I support marriage equality.

There are people in my life that I love with all my heart who do not have the rights they should.

Their love for each other is honest, it is beautiful & the strength of their relationships are truly enviable.

I dread the day that I will have to attempt to explain to my son that they do not have the choice as his father & I did to marry.

That I will have to tell him that close minded & ignorant people can affect others lives in such a profoundly ridiculous way.

I hope that I will never have to.

C x

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.

#91 It Gets Better Project

An AMAZING project by Dan Savage, an American author, media pundit, journalist & newspaper editor.

So. What is it all about???

An excerpt from Dan's column about Billy Lucas:

"Billy Lucas was just 15 when he hanged himself in a barn on his grandmother's property. He reportedly endured intense bullying at the hands of his classmates—classmates who called him a fag and told him to kill himself. His mother found his body.... I wish I could have talked to this kid for five minutes. I wish I could have told Billy that it gets better. I wish I could have told him that, however bad things were, however isolated and alone he was, it gets better.
But gay adults aren't allowed to talk to these kids. Schools and churches don't bring us in to talk to teenagers who are being bullied. Many of these kids have homophobic parents who believe that they can prevent their gay children from growing up to be gay—or from ever coming out—by depriving them of information, resources, and positive role models."

"Why are we waiting for permission to talk to these kids? We have the ability to talk directly to them right now. We don't have to wait for permission to let them know that it gets better. We can reach these kids."

"If you're gay or lesbian or bi or trans, and you've ever read about a kid like Billy Lucas and thought, "F*ck, I wish I could've told him that it gets better," this is your chance. We can't help Billy, but there are lots of other Billys out there—other despairing LGBT kids who are being bullied and harassed, kids who don't think they have a future—and we can help them...."

The project was launched September 21st 2010 & there are now hundreds of 'It Gets Better' movies, each with hundreds & in fact some with tens of thousands of views...
The channel has hundreds of thousands of views.

See more of the It Gets Better Project here.


Dan Savage, Congratulations on being brilliant & THANK YOU.

C x

#65 The Little Comment That Could

The lovely Lili Lutu of Lily Lutu Jewelry commented on my last post, & I started to respond to her comment but it kept growing & growing & it was getting a little silly. I also thought some really good points were raised by Lili's comment so I thought this would be easier!

Here is the comment in case you didn't see it...

I think we've all experienced what you've talking about - and I agree with all of it. I've also come to believe over the years, however, that the reason I don't share who I really am with everyone, is because not everyone deserves to know who I really am. Our experiences make us who we are - and quite a few of the bad experiences have been forged by other people. It isn't always the case, but I am sure you know what I mean. So we learn as much about others as we do about ourselves as we tread life's path - and I think we come to recognise who we want to share with and who we don't. And I am not being pessimistic or dramatic. It's just a life skill that we pick up along the way. Or should. Too many people never do, sadly. Doesn't mean you should cut people off. Just means you need to be prudent about wearing your heart on your sleeve and sharing your life with every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

I love this blog! Have I told you lately?

Very well said I think? Yes, I know what you mean.

I don't think that sounds either pessimistic or dramatic at all.

I am of the opinion that there's nothing you can learn about others that is not something you are learning about yourself.

For example, personally I have found that if someone does something that annoys me, or acts in a way that i dislike, it is because it is a part of my own personality that I dislike, or that perhaps I have acted that way in the past.

I feel that there is no judgement you can cast upon another without looking inward & finding a personal lesson & I think you attract people into your life who if you are paying attention - which lets not sugar coat it, is pretty tiring at times! - will provide you with the things you need to hear & the things you need to see in order to continue to grow as a person.

Your comment about whether people deserve to see who you really are reminded me of realisation I had years ago when I was still dating.

That was that even though my family obviously wanted to meet anyone who I went on even one date with (not that they did), that I owed it to them to make sure that whoever it was, was worthy of meeting them.

It seemed like such an obvious thing & yet it had somehow never occurred to me.

The next person that met them was Mr N.

So I guess in 'protecting' them, my responsibility to myself got addressed along the way!

Thanks Lili, so lovely to know you're enjoying the blog & I'm so appreciative that you take the time to comment :)

Thanks for making me think!

I know this chatter is not particularly 'wedding-y' in the traditional wedding blog sense but I truly believe that one of the most important things in a relationship is being able to support each other in continuing to grow & become the best people you can each be, & since a marriage is what a wedding is all about...

My All ForEver After.

C x