"Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion" - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
New Year. Fourth salon. I can’t think of a better way for me to have kicked off 2019. I absolutely rejoiced in seeing so many loving faces here last night. Happy New year’s wishes and hugs being shared and the house once again buzzing with wonderful energy.
Last night I had the pleasure to interview Christina Roughan of Roughan Interiors. She’s a fellow Westonite, a fellow mama and a friend. I’ve known Christina for a little over 5 years now and have always admired her work. But taking the time to pause, and discover more about her and her story have made me admire her even more. Personal storytelling, I feel, has that unique power to magically create and strengthen human connection. Even if our stories are different, we can all somehow relate back to the core emotions of our own personal life story. I’ve never designed a home for a client with a toxic business partner…yet I have experienced working with a toxic coworker. Even if my mentor wasn’t “Ralph” (love that she calls Ralph Lauren by his first name!) who hasn’t had that one person that we admire, that we feel has taught us so much, that shaped our journey in some particular way?
Christina was open, honest and raw. She shared her journey from growing up in quaint middle-class hard working Worcester County, MA, and having been born with an innate eye and appreciation for aesthetics and luxury, plus a sense of always wanting to reach for more. As she spoke, it was clear that her success stems from the combination of her inborn creativity and ability to recognize beauty, mixed with her courageous give-it-a-try attitude and hardworking ethics.
As Christina walked us through her ups and downs, I was reminded once more that life is in no way a straight line. It’s a winding road. Very winding. With valleys and hills. Looking at Christina’s work, these stunning and beautifully manicured spaces, it was so easy for me to completely forget to –once again- pause and realize that she too has had obstacles she has had to overcome and lessons she has had to learned to get to where she is now. And there it is- that connection, that “me too!” factor, where I could relate to her story. Where we could all relate to the reality that we have reached where we are, here and now, by means of a winding road.
Her overarching message, “just keep walking, keep walking…” I felt was so powerful. We’ve all heard messages of this nature over our life time, yet last night it really managed to re-inspire me. Maybe it was the way she was saying it, with so much emotion and conviction, that it really struck me.
Amongst my other big takeaway was her “go-getter” attitude towards life. As a young woman, fresh out of college: “I’m getting a job in NYC, I’m moving on November 4th. No idea where I’m going to live or work yet. But that’s what I’m going to do”. A few years later, while freelancing at Ralph Lauren: “I’m going to design this person’s apartment, not sure how I’m going to do this, but I’m going to do it”. When she launched her second company, TOCAR: “not quite sure about the business side of it all, but I’m getting a business partner and I’m doing it”. Lastly, after going separate ways and founding her present company, Roughan Interiors: “no idea if this is going to work, if I can re-invent myself once again…but I’m doing it”. And wait, let’s not forget the amazing story about her singing?! (thanks Shannon for highlighting this!): “I like singing, so I’m going to ask this total stranger that I know likes to sing too, to see if she would like to start a rock band”, which then led to composing and producing music, having gigs and touring…Once again that attitude: “I’m just going to do it!”
“I’m going to design this person’s apartment, not sure how I’m going to do this, but I’m going to do it.”
The evening was an inspiring one for sure. I was reminded to approach life with curiosity and zest, with a sense of readiness to just go for it and finish those unfinished projects, to try that thing that I’ve been wanting to try for so long, but have been struggling to find the strength to propel me forward. To find the joy and confidence in reinventing myself as many times as I want to. I was comforted in the reminder that my journey is not the only one that has been a winding one. That I can look back and embrace, and be grateful for the twists and turns, the ups and downs that life has presented me with so far. And to reignite that boldness and courage, that I believe lives inside of us all, to look towards the future and say: “why not? Bring it on! Let’s just do it!”
With intent,
Juad
For more on Christine Roughan’s work you may visit her website @
https://www.roughaninteriors.com/ or follow her on IG @ roughaninteriors
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