LIFE OUT LOUD – Origin Story
On a high rock cliff above an idyllic valley in Germany, sits a regal, old, stone castle. Long ago, it was built as a summer home and hunting lodge for a Duke, but it stands today as a gorgeous testament to the romanticism of the era. One particular cozy room called “the drinking parlor” is richly adorned with wood and murals that depict festive celebrations and hunting scenes. Ornate windows overlook the valley below. The room has long benches and simple wood tables styled like a medieval ale-house. An emerald green stove is tucked along the side. But the focal point of the room is an elegant raised speaker’s platform from which guests regaled stories of the day and made toasts to friends seated below. The decorative and playful murals reflect a sense of humor while the room’s very purpose is for camaraderie and bonding. While touring the castle, we took pause at the special feel and purpose of this room. Imagining the stories once exchanged among the guests, we realized this was the kind of connection yearned for in our modern lives. During that trip to Germany, in that old-world room, the kindling was laid for an idea yet to come.
Back home in North Carolina, we stopped at Bojangles for an early breakfast. Four old men dressed in camo sat around a small square table, talking, laughing and clearly energized for the day. They were veterans going on a hunting trip together as they do every year. We were reminded of the camaraderie we imagined in the cozy parlor. Weeks passed and modern life worked to crowd out regular thoughts of our trip. However, one prevalent notion kept rising to the top: what could facilitate that level of humor and camaraderie in our modern lives… in our own homes… with stories from today’s world?
Early one morning, during routine chores, a spark finally ignited the kindling. The idea of a simple card game that facilitates sharing modern-life stories was born. With old world style, playful humor, and rapt listeners, the camaraderie and bonding of the Romantic era was infused into a game for today. Now, the game called “Life Out Loud” is available to you. Bring it into your home or your vacation space and let it ignite the fun and bonding that friends and family enjoy while regaling their stories of life out loud.
