Let's talk about ..... LEROY SANCHEZ

Hello again!

Three days ago I went to Hamburg to finally see Leroy Sanchez live on stage. I have waited for this for a long time so you can imagine how excited I was. I told my colleagues about the concert so I would get the day off. They had no idea who I was talking about! Of course I immediately took out my phone and showed them some videos.
I will tell you about the concert but I will do so in my next post. Now I first want to introduce him to you, explain how I encountered his music and why I cannot resist it...





Leroy who?!

That was my exact thought four years ago. I was very active on Twitter. I met some people on a site called "Uneeqability.com" which sadly does not exist anymore. It was a platform for any kind of artist to present their talents to the world. I became friends with some of them and supported them, especially by spreading the word on Twitter.
One day I got the info that Leroy Sanchez followed me. I had never heard that name before so I checked out his profile. A musician... I am curious by nature and I love music, I had no choice but to check out his YouTube channel. And what can I say?! I have been a fan since then...

"Fell Off The Moon" was the first song of his that I listened to and that is how he got me. Seriously, how could you resist that voice? Just close your eyes and listen. His voice is like a blanket giving you warmth, making you feel comfortable and safe. This song, an original, is still my favorite but sadly it is not available anywhere...



Like I said I am curious. That is why I always do some research on artists I like and that is what I did with Leroy Sanchez. Do not worry, I do not mean the creepy stalker kind of research! 😉
I could write it all down now but I think it is best to let him speak for himself:

When I tell my friends about him I never call him a singer. Yes, he sings but he is so much more than just a singer. He writes, he composes, he creates. And still there is more. If you have your own song, your own creation, there is nothing to compare it to. But Leroy started his career by doing covers of great and famous songs and I bet it is not easy to compete with Ed Sheeran, Beyonce and more because covers always get compared to the originals.
Leroy turns their songs into his own which is why his covers (and in general I rarely say that) often are even better than the originals! I love Ed Sheeran, he is an outstanding artist but Leroy's version of "Perfect" just blew me away and melted my heart. Also Shawn Mendes, I love his music but whenever his song "Nothing Holding Me Back" is on the radio I have Leroy's voice and his version in my head...

Leroy Sanchez - remember that name! I have watched him evolve for four years now and I know he will make it to the top. He has the talent, the courage and the passion to do so. There truly is nothing holding him back!

And now go check out his pages!

YouTube:   Leroy Sanchez   AND   Leroy Sanchez SP (his Spanish channel)

Homepage:   http://www.leroysanchez.com/

Facebook:   Leroy Sanchez

Instagram:   iamleroysanchez

Twitter:   @IamLeroySanchez

Spotify:   Leroy Sanchez

With love

Loulou

Don't judge

Hey there,

today I need to tell you a little something. Yesterday at work I experienced something nobody should:

Currently I work as a waitress at an ice cream parlor. 

Yesterday I was the only one working there, the weather was not that good and therefore we did not have too many customers. A couple came by. They sat down, smiled at me and when I wanted to take their order they started talking. They told me where they came from because they were here on vacation and that they were in Spain a few weeks ago. They asked if I was from Spain, because I do not look very German. I smiled and told them that I have German and Arabic roots.

They looked at each other and the woman just said one more thing to me: "You should have stayed in your country!" Without another word they left...

I do not take it to heart but something like that really hurts! I am telling you this story because people often do not realize how powerful words can be. Words can be as sharp as a knife and though they do not break your skin, they hurt just as much and the scars they leave are not visible but they are there.

Growing up like I did, being a part of two pretty different worlds shaped me. People from both sides, strangers as well as family, tried to tell me what was right or wrong, who to hate and who to admire, how to behave, how to feel... 

It was not easy but I am thankful for that, it made me who I am. And I am a person who hates prejudice and racism. 

People like to judge and to categorize. But if you do so then do not do it based on where they come from, on what they believe in, on how they look, on who they love. Do it based on who they are as a human being, on their characters and their actions.

Who knows?! Maybe the person you once pushed away because he did not fit into your box would have been your best friend. Maybe the woman you once harassed for her looks would have made you the happiest man in the world. Maybe the man you once rejected because he had the wrong color of skin would have been the most loyal and dedicated employee you ever had... 

This is my amazing grandma. I am Muslim, she is Christian. She celebrates the Sugar Feast with me and I celebrate Christmas with her. 

We do not always see eye to eye on everything but we accept, we even embrace our differences and we love each other to the moon and back. 

Look beyond the differences and you will see countless similarities. Communication and an open heart - these are the keys. Every single person is an individual, never forget that.

With lots of love,

Loulou

Loulou 2.0

Hello,

I am back!! I am sorry it took me quite a while to post again but I had a lot to figure out lately. My life is changing and there are some decisions to make which is why I needed to take some time.

Like I already told you when I introduced myself, this summer I finally got my highschool degree. That means one chapter in my life just closed and I am working on the new one.
After getting that degree I had to make decisions like what do I want to do now? Which university should I go to? What exactly should I study and should I start this or next year?
I applied at some universities for a bachelor degree course, different ones but all about media since I want to become a journalist. But I did not get in.

I had to think about something else. Languages. Languages are great for journalism because you need to be able to express yourself in words and you do not only learn a language but also its history, you learn about the countries in which the language is spoken, you learn about culture and literature. It feels perfect for me. I chose to study English and Spanish with the opportunity to become a teacher. There is nothing wrong with a plan B...

To study a language you need a certificate to prove that you already speak the language to a certain level. The problem: I could not get the certificate for Spanish in time. So once again I had to make a decision. I could choose French instead of Spanish or I could wait a year.

I chose waiting. I am patient. Almost all my life I did what others expected me to do, I did not allow myself to be just me instead of the person they wanted me to be. But I am done with that. No more compromises regarding my life or my future. Instead I choose to make the best of the year I have, because these last three years I was so busy all the time. I decided that I will go to Lebanon for a month or so to visit my family. And I will go to Spain for a month to learn more Spanish so I will be perfectly prepared...

So this is it. Loulou 2.0 is ready for you! 😉

Enjoy your day and make the best of it!

With love

Loulou

Meant to Dream

Hey there!

I am writing a post for my very own blog. I am still so excited about this!
I wanted to become a journalist since 7th grade. I wanted to write a blog for years now. But I never did any of it. Those were dreams and chasing your dreams can be very difficult so that you end up playing it safe. You give up on those dreams...

I often think about that. I think about the time when I was a little girl. I had so many dreams, I wanted to become a dancer, a singer, a chef, a wife and mother, a doctor, a princess. I wanted to travel the world, to be adventurous and to speak many languages. Back then it was not about IF these things would happen but WHEN would they happen?

But as we grow older we limit ourselves, we build walls and create borders we should not cross.
As I thought about all this, I wrote a poem. Today I want to share it with you. Here it is:


Meant to Dream

Remember when we were kids?
We used to call dibs on things we wanted to have,
had so many reasons to laugh.
We saw beauty in the simplest things,
our minds were free, we had wings.
We've listened to the songs our hearts used to sing,
didn't know what the future might bring.
When grown ups told us we can't 
then we showed them we can,
cause we didn't worry, but were brave like men.
We weren't afraid to love, we held hands.
We said "I love you" and we meant it.
We were jittery, couldn't sit for too long, 
couldn't wait to do it:
to chase the dreams we dreamt of at night,
cause chasing them felt so right.
In our eyes you could find the light,
it shone so beautifully and bright.
One day we had a big fight,
the next day we were best friends again
and could continue creating our business plan.
We were more forgiving back then.
We didn't need much to feel happiness,
we were more generous though we had less.
We were creative and had lots to do,
thought about the day our dreams would come true.
Everything was easier, we did what we wantd to do.
We didn't worry at all,
we got up after every fall,
nothing could stop us - no person, no rule, no wall.

And now?! Look at us today!
Instead of running we stopped and stayed,
we might have even taken the wrong way.
Curiosity was our strength,
passion was our weapon,
our dreams were the prey.
Now it's fear that rules our little world.
It's like we gave up true love for a simple flirt.
We stop chasing our dreams. We give up.
And our excuse is "I have to grow up".
We take jobs we don't really like.
We grab the phone instead of the mic,
we wear work clothing instead of dancing shoes
and we watch TV instead of creating news.

Grow up but keep the kid's curiosity and passion,
take risks, make mistakes and learn your lessons.
Grow wisdom but don't change, resist the pressure,
cause a dream coming true is worth more than any treasure.
Don't cut your own wings, don't follow the mainstream,
cause we were created that way - we were meant to dream.


Maybe you can relate a little, find yourself in those lines or maybe you think it is totally stupid. Either way - let me know what you think in the comments below. Tell me your opinion, your story and experiences! I am a dreamer. What about you?

With love

Loulou

Welcome to my world!

Hello!

You found your way to my blog, thank you for taking the time to check it out! I always wanted to do this but I guess I just never had the courage. But finally I am here and since this is my very first post, I want to introduce myself first.

I am Loulou. I am 27 years old and I live in Scharbeutz, Germany. My mom is German and my dad is Lebanese. Many people think that the differences are too great - Christianity and Islam, east and west, tradition and modernity - are poles apart, but I can tell you they are not.

I did a three-year training in a hotel and was a bartender for two years. But that was always my plan B, I was okay with it but I was not truly happy. Since I was 14 years old I wanted to become a journalist. So I decided to go to school again to get my high-school diploma which I need to go to university.
For three years I took evening classes and worked two jobs. And one month ago I finally got that degree! It was hard but it was worth fighting for. Everything you love is always worth fighting for!

I still don't know exactly where my dreams will take me but I am sure it is gonna be a great journey. And if you like you can be a part of it!

I am so excited! Thank you for your time and have a good day!

With love...

Loulou