These pass couple of years have been really hard for me. Becoming a mother has brought on emotions and questions I never even knew I had and has turned me completely on my head! I think there are different times or experiences in peoples lives when their world is shaken and all of a sudden life is not as it once seemed. This was it for me. I lovingly refer to it as “my deep dark hole”. I can joke about it now because I’m on my way out. Thank you, Lord! I was having breakfast with one of my besties when she casually told me about this TED talk. Little did she know it would catapult me out of my “deep dark hole”. This was the best gift I received this year and I haven’t even opened my presents -ha! I watched it from my phone with my headphones on as my husband slept next to me. He didn’t even wake up when I started bawling my eyes out half way through the talk. It’s a good thing I wasn’t in the auditorium -ha! I thought I’d share this gift with you guys, because, as I always say when asked about C. Style, it’s about way more than just clothes.
I realize this may be a little too mushy for some. Even if just one of you listens to it and it means even a 5th of what it meant to me, then I am happy. Now, as I hit publish, I’ll have to remind myself that being vulnerable does NOT mean I am weak.
This was her first talk which was equally as good:
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! I’ll be taking a break from the blog until the New Year. Love to you all.
Phyllis R. says
Carly ~
I’m a long-time reader and while I always appreciate your fashion guidance and cute humor, I have come to really appreciate that you are a truly kind and caring person. Thank you for posting this for all us “vulnerable” souls out here. It’s like saying “me too” from her point on empathy. Oh goodness yes, we have ALL had those “deep dark holes”.
I had seen her original TED video, but not this newest one. Wow. Wow… Thank you for sharing. So much goodness. I think my favorite part was this: “How many of us think it’s pure WEAKNESS when WE are vulnerable? But how many of us think when we see it in others, it’s pure COURAGE?” We are SO hard on ourselves. If we could only see ourselves in a less harsh light!
Thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas and thoughts in one of my favorite blogs! And thank you so much for being vulnerable, aka COURAGEOUS. : ) Have a very blessed Christmas with your adorable family!
Phyllis
Carly Lee (C. Style Blog) says
Phyllis, Your note brought tears to my eyes, Thank YOU! You just helped me feel more courageous.
gypsy soul interiors says
Carly, I just wrote a long reply and somehow deleted it! I totally wish I knew your number to call you right now:) Anyway, I have dealt with my own dark hole which for me was anxiety disorder. Some people know, some don’t but I don’t hide if anymore. Anyway, I’ve noticed that a lot of us blogger types are actually plagued with some similar struggles and wondered if maybe it’s our perfectionist personality trait. In fact for me, I know my perfectionist personality caused my control issues and anxiety. For me, pulling away from blogging helped and now I actually mostly just am a mommy and a painter. Our age and our childrens age is a weird transitional time and I bet if we all talked more about what was really going on instead of making everything seem so perfect we would be a lot better off! I am so glad you shared this and I have LOVED all of Brene Browns talks. Totally hits home with me:) not sure if you follow Hollywood Housewife but she also has been pretty honest about her deep dark hole. I only read your blog, Hollywood Housewife and Little Green Notebook and for 2 out of 3 bloggers admitting to struggles these last years, there must be some commonality. Thank you so much for your amazing blog and for being so real! You have saved me so much time shopping because I just copy your great outfits! Speaking of, have you tried the J crew Pixie pants? I may be in love….
Merry Christmas!
Kristen
GypsySoulInteriors
Carly Lee (C. Style Blog) says
Kristen! Thank you for your comment! I think you are so right on so many accounts. I recently realized that the cure to perfectionism is raising kiddos -hahaha! I love the J. Crew pixie pant! I wear mine all the time! Thanks again for your comment.
gypsy soul interiors says
Carly, I just wrote a long reply and somehow deleted it! I totally wish I knew your number to call you right now:) Anyway, I have dealt with my own dark hole which for me was anxiety disorder. Some people know, some don’t but I don’t hide if anymore. Anyway, I’ve noticed that a lot of us blogger types are actually plagued with some similar struggles and wondered if maybe it’s our perfectionist personality trait. In fact for me, I know my perfectionist personality caused my control issues and anxiety. For me, pulling away from blogging helped and now I actually mostly just am a mommy and a painter. Our age and our childrens age is a weird transitional time and I bet if we all talked more about what was really going on instead of making everything seem so perfect we would be a lot better off! I am so glad you shared this and I have LOVED all of Brene Browns talks. Totally hits home with me:) not sure if you follow Hollywood Housewife but she also has been pretty honest about her deep dark hole. I only read your blog, Hollywood Housewife and Little Green Notebook and for 2 out of 3 bloggers admitting to struggles these last years, there must be some commonality. Thank you so much for your amazing blog and for being so real! You have saved me so much time shopping because I just copy your great outfits! Speaking of, have you tried the J crew Pixie pants? I may be in love….
Merry Christmas!
Kristen
GypsySoulInteriors
Margo says
oh, you are NOT alone with deep dark holes! Kudos for you for your honesty (vulnerability!) – I appreciate that you say more than clothes on here, even though I do love your clothes and fashion sense. I had post-partum depression after both my children were born and wow, that was scary and then, as I healed, beautiful. I vowed I would never keep it a secret from other women because I felt that telling the truth makes us all free.
So, I listened to the first talk and found so much to think about – so good. I want to share it with my husband.
Thank you, again, for this post. I hope you are having fun over the holidays!
Burke Rabe says
Thank you for sharing this. Finally, somebody said it!
Carly Lee (C. Style Blog) says
Thank you for your comment:)
Karen Stopnicki says
Carly, thank you so much for sharing these two wonderful videos. They really hit home with me as well, and frankly is just what was needed at this time of the year. I really enjoy following your blog… you have great fashion tips and always good comments. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas. I am sad that you are moving, I hope not too far away. But wherever your move takes you, I hope thee is health and happiness there.
Carly Lee (C. Style Blog) says
Thank you, Karen!