Hi from Sydney. I took this 'us-ie' in the car at the airport after my 14 hour flight from L.A. It's not a glamorous photo, but it shows the thing that matters most: how happy we are being back together. Can you see the look in our eyes?
My trip to America made me miss the people I love, made me love some new people I met, and helped me reconnect with family and a precious friend via a surprising phone call.
Everything, everything had to do with the heart. And it made me realise we all want the same thing.
Do you know what everyone wants?
Everyone wants to be seen -- really seen -- by you.
Spending time with all my quirky, loveable, amazing people on my trip, coming back to my family, made me think of Maya Angelou. Maya says that everyone asks these four questions, especially Question #1.
I first heard about the 4 Questions in this fantastic article by Katherine Schafler, on the advice of my friend, Kristen. Read it here -- so worthwhile.
Seeing someone means removing your story about them. It means accepting them in their human imperfection and loving them anyway. When we don't require or ask people to change, they feel free to be themselves.
Everyone is so hungry for true love.
True love is just this: being seen -- really seen -- by other people.
So here's what I'm going to try: deep breath, see the person in front of me, love, repeat.
Enjoy your beautiful weekend, everyone. And, as always, have some fun...and be fun to live with!
Love, Catherine x
PS. Check out what I'm up to on Instagram if you like pretty pictures of Arizona and Palm Springs. And here's a sweet story: one of my friends whispered to me at the end of my trip, "Thank you for flying 28 hours to see us." I felt loved. I felt seen.
If you want to check out 125+ awesome posts on happiness like this one, here you go! I always write from the heart. Please feel free to share my blog with your important people. (New readers can sign up here for a weekly dose of happiness!)