'When it rains, look for rainbows!' ✨🌈✨

Letting the colours flow from a healed heart💖✨🌟💖

**I’d love if you might like to listen to the audio of this substack as you read. I add extra’s into the audio for your enjoyment ;) and for you to have a little giggle to yourself :) Also there will often be mistakes in the text - Sorry about those….just skip your eye over them. They will only be small but just to apologise for any mistakes due to my sleepy eyes re-reading this a few hours before it heads to your inbox. Thanks a million for BEING HERE 💖

When It Rains, Look For Rainbows! ✨🌈

I haven’t painted in years….actually the last time I really painted was after my dad died…..I attended some classes locally to distract me from the permanent ache in my heart and not only did I enjoy the painting but I loved meeting so many lovely people too as part of the classes. Local people who I hadn’t seen in years were all around me and it was so lovely as I took the brush and the colours to the canvas.

I live in a rural Ireland and it’s very much the case that if you don’t get out and mix, you would never meet anyone. I know this way of living is not for all but because I live in a village, we all really know each other very well and when we come together, it’s so lovely and feels like community in every way. And this was very much the case with the painting classes. I had studied art in school and took it as part of my Leaving Cert but after that, I left it behind and picked up other means of creativity instead. Writing being a huge one of course. I most definitely put down the paintbrush and picked up the pen in exchange. I guess when I think about it, completing my post grad in TV and Radio might not seem directly artistic but when it came to my eye for detail in picking camera shots, I really always was very particular & loved to have things looking pretty and aesthetic. And as you all know I’m pure mad for photos…..Stand with me for three seconds and I’ll be taking a snap of your shoes….or maybe the sun as it hits your face or maybe the building in the background.

Yes I do have a problem haha ;) But I love it…..and I will not be stopped haha ;) Annnnndd…….look at the numerology magic happening in that number - 103,030….pure coincidence….pure serendipity…..pure magic….I could not make this happen if I tried….oh my god and when you add all the number up ….1+3+3= 7…..my magic number……

Righteo back to the story I’m trying to share with you. You are so good that you are still with me. You know how I like to go off on a tangent every now and then….oh look something shiny…and back to the tale….

So art….it has been part of my life in many ways but painting was something I left behind when I moved in with Gran. I just didn’t have the time and honestly….I forgot about it. You know when in life, you just seem to be ploughing through your days and all of a sudden a year has passed. Two years have passed. Three years have passed. A lifetime has vanished and if someone asked what you did in that time, you would nearly not know what you did. Is it just me or is this the way life has kind of just changed? We are all moving really fast forward and in many ways, it’s like we are so busy yet we’re not even sure what we are busy doing? One thing I know is, don’t ask me to be a witness for anything because genuinely I can’t nearly remember what I did yesterday. Where was I? What was I doing? I surely was drinking tea right but where, when and with who? I have no idea ;) (Please comment below and confirm I am not on my own in this way - you don’t know who you were drinking tea with yesterday either right?)

And back to the art….So my big news this week is I’m back painting. I’ve actually been back painting for quite sometime but I didn’t tell anyone. I was just doing it for pure joy and fun for me. A bit like doing a crossword on a Sunday morning, I was painting here, there and everywhere in my timeline - mostly when the mood hit me. But in recent weeks something has changed about this approach to painting and having fun. Three weeks ago I painted a picture for my aunt. She had been going through a tough time and needed a little lift. So I decided one evening, I was going to paint one especially for her in my mind and heart as I did it. I knew she had something important happening the following day so I decided to spin to her home and bring her the painting. I was hoping it might give her a little lift. She opened the door and with a smile on her face to see me ( which is always such a heart warmer in life right?) but as she invited me in, I said ‘I have something for you’ handing her the painting. I said it’s still a bit wet but I hope you like it. Well that was it…..the moment when I knew I had something special in my hands. Her eyes opened and I could see the emotion move in her. I could feel her heart swell as I stood beside her. If I could have given her a million euros it wouldn’t have felt as good. I knew I had helped her - if just in a moment. On her painting I had inscribed the words - ‘When it rains, look for rainbows. Keep looking up.’ She was really taken with it and there begins this chapter of my life. As I left her home, I knew if nothing else I had done that day or even that week, I had given someone I love a lift. I had passed my hopeful energy to someone who really needed it. Somewhere in the exchange of the painting I could feel I had left a piece of my heart with her and both of us felt it.

Amazingly and magically, that evening I was sitting in Gran’s bedroom where I do all my writing. As I do often I allow my eyes to wander out the window. I love looking out the window. I always feel like I’m checking up on the world and I’ll just take a peek. Well on this occasion, like magic from the heavens, it began to rain but not so much the rain caught my eye but what was appearing right in front of Gran’s home - but a beautiful gorgeous rainbow. I ran straight out. I couldn’t believe my eyes and I needed to be closer to it. I stood out in the pouring of rain and got absolutely drenched. I looked up at this glorious rainbow and whispered gently to the sky ‘Thank you Gran’. It was just what I needed. I hadn’t seen a rainbow or received a sign from Gran in months. It had been a really long time. And I didn't want to admit it but I had missed her signs. Just like from the very day she passed, her signs were never random. They were always placed ever so specially where and when they were meant to be seen. And this sign of the rainbow was beyond magically. Right in front of her house. I stood there until the rainbow faded away and even though the rainbow appearing brings me so much joy, the slow act it takes to disappearing always hurts that little bit each time too. But, with the story of grief as all will tell you, as each hurt comes, every time the hurt comes, healing comes too and somewhere in the middle of these moments, I am building a strength inside me to process my grief and to embrace my healing. And of course it was the sign of this rainbow that I then felt Gran was telling me to keep painting so that is exactly what I’ve done.

I paint for joy. And as my nearest and dearest have seen what I’ve been doing, their instant reaction to my paintings have inspired me to step forward with them. So this Saturday with a whole lot of love in my heart and a whole rainbow on my palette, I am launching my first collection of paintings. I am launching them in a town I love, in a venue I love. Stuti and Manish run a coffee shop in Mullingar, county Westmeath. I love these two. When I approached them about my book tour - two people I had never met before by the way - they were beyond dreamlike in their support and since my first engagement with them, our friendships have just grown and grown. They are such good people and I love what they are about. Two good humans who run a fantastic coffee shop. Their food and all their treats are delish. Their attention to detail and care of their customers is second to none. They work so hard and they support so many people. So this Saturday I return to Esquires Coffee in Mullingar and I will launch my first collection of paintings and I am so excited. I have had to stay up until all hours of the night painting to be ready.

Since I only contacted Stuti on Monday, this seems a little rushed but I don’t feel rushed at all. I feel like it has all been part of some bigger greater plan for me. Even though it’s something I’ve never shared, even though it’s a whole new creative part of myself i’m putting forward and no matter what I feel vulnerable because in sharing the creative parts of ourselves it’s scary. I wonder will anyone like what I do? Will anyone want to buy it? These are the initial fears but with this moment, i’ve never felt so relaxed. I feel like the colours of the rainbow are inside me and every time I paint I paint with joy in my heart and fun and love in my brush as it hits the canvas and now that I’ve seen people’s honest reactions to my paintings I feel no fear. Instead I know Gran was indeed sending me a sign and thank god I’m now so open to healing and also to leaning into who I am that my heart fills with hope and excitement in these moments more than anything else.

In January, you might remember I travelled to Berlin for my first trip in years. I went to see a show called ARISE! And not only was it the best live show I’ve ever seen (alongside my best friends and boyfriends - Coldplay -of course!) but there was a song inside this show that I just loved - it’s called ‘It’s time!’ Again I believe this was a song I needed to bring forward into my new year. I’ve played it a million times but after I made this decision to take a leap of faith with my paintings I realised this song title was again very appropriate. IT’S TIME LOU! I need to extend my creative entrepreneurship and pivot. And not am I pivoting (which I’m proud of” but I’m also leaning in, looking up and creating more joy not only for me, but hopefully for you too.

So if you are thinking about doing something, being something or changing something, I urge you to listen to the song ‘It’s TIME’ from the Arise show on spotify. Also this is my message to you, a sign from someone who cares about you - IT’S TIME! Make those moves. Change up your lift. Pick up something you put down. Take that leap of faith and live your life to its full potential. BE YOU. BE ALL OF YOU!!!!!

To give you a taste of the kind of painting I do, I’ll include some photos down below.

My hope for my work in this area is that anyone who might buy one, will feel they are bringing a piece of my healed heart home with them. A heart that is full of energy, fun, joy and most importantly hope. I want these paintings to give people a reason to look up in their homes. And when they look at them, I want them to feel love and light in abundance. To feel me close and to know I truly believe that together we can get through anything and together we will always shine brighter than any darkness than lands on us and most importantly when it rains, look for rainbows and they will always be there!

Excitedly I received my first commission for two pieces within hours of sharing photos of what I’ve been creating - another sign that this truly is a calling for me & I need and want to follow my heart. It has never led me astray and I look forward to all the fun and friendships it will be bring me also.

What I’ve learned so much from this past year - that whether your heart is broken or not broken, an open heart will lead you to places you could only dream of. There really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and its there for us all to attain if only we are brave enough to reach for it. The pot of gold is indeed the people who we meet on this path and the people who we ultimately love forever more!

Thanks so much for reading/listening to my substack each week. I couldn’t do any of this without you and your support means everything to me 💖✨💖

Also to mention as the community grows and things get even busier for me, from the month of August access to the substack home here will be through paid subscription. If you remain on the free subscription you will still receive one post per month. The paid members community subscription will give you full access to all the newsletters/podcasts each month (usually at least 4) plus a zoom community meet up along with lots more special elements coming soon. To upgrade your subscription you can just click the button here below

Thank you for your support always and with August just around the corner, I promise you lots more fun to come from me ;) The plans are in place, our community is just going to grow and grow. Also on Saturday we are having a Facebook Family meet up alongside the launch as well as celebrating the fabulous news that I received that the book had made the longlist for the Irish Cap Book Awards. Lots of tea cups will be raised in Granny Nancy’s name on Saturday. To Granny Nancy. To rainbows! To YOU! 💖✨💖

Keep looking up and keep being you,

Love always,

Lou xx

I’d be so grateful if you might leave a comment below to let me know you read all the way down to here & also any feedback you have about this newsletter :) I’d love to hear your thoughts 💖

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Louise Coghlan is an author, communicator and coach. If you need help, hope or just an injection of happiness or light at any stage, you can connect with her through her websites down below. Lou is presently touring her award nominated book ‘Granny Nancy - Ireland’s Oldest Lady’ across the country and can be found on Midlands 103 on the ‘Friday Panel’ on a regular basis. Here’s a link to her most recent guesting on there: Midlands Radio with Lou

To find her during the week and in between substacks, she is very active and streams daily on www.facebook.com/livingandlaughingwithlou.