I’m always daydreaming about our perfect home, and I don’t know yet if it’s a rural setting, a city apartment or a traditional brick and tile, but I imagine how it will be. I do actually love where we live, but it isn’t perfect. And guess what, the next place won’t be perfect either. Even if it’s quite new there will still be things I don’t like about it, maintenance to be done and areas to improve on.
I always imagine when I have my perfect place that I will enjoy caring for it exquisitely. I will keep it clean and tidy and it will be clutter-free because I want it to feel airy and joyful.
Again, guess what, I can do that right now where I live and enjoy living there even more. I can make a list of the improvements and tick them off, or if there are things I cannot change or that don’t really need changing and just don’t meet my ideal aesthetic, then I can choose not to see them.
This is not new thinking at all, but sometimes I have to re-remember that I have a choice to love where I am right now and that will make everything better both now and in the future, because it will bring about good habits and ways of thinking that benefit me and those around me.
When my sister and I were single and flatted together fifteen years ago, our flatmate went out a few times with a woman who ended up moving to Australia. He said to us of her that when she got there looking for this glittering new life, ‘she would still be there’. It was the first time I’d been introduced to the concept that wherever we go, we take ourselves with us, and it is actually us that creates our experience, not a different backdrop. It’s up to us to be the change we want to see, to borrow from Ghandi I think it is.
So this takes me back to my home and how I want to feel in it. Words that come to mind are: happy, carefree, content and peaceful. What are some ways I can feel happy, carefree, content and peaceful now?
Take care of all that I have, exquisitely
Appreciate my home and everything around me
Keep my life feeling free by not overloading myself with obligations and possessions
Make the decision to feel happy, carefree, content and peaceful
Focus on things that make feel me happy, carefree, content and peaceful
So today I am re-committing to living where I love by loving where I live.
I ordered the first season dvd of Cedar Cove from Amazon recently since I couldn’t buy it in New Zealand. I have watched three episodes so far, and look forward to the next cosy viewing with my favourite Andie MacDowell. I love Andie and I love making myself feel good with wholesome, ‘nice’ tv viewing (taking inspiration from the last point on my list above).
And to finish, here is one of my favourite motivational snippets which came from a homemaking blog many years ago. The link to the blog that I had is no longer there but I did find it on a newer post/blog, not sure if it’s the same person who wrote it or not.
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Do It Anyway
We can enjoy life or we can survive life. Our daily responses to the little things determine which it will be.
If the carpet is worn, vacuum it anyway.
If the furniture is old, dust it anyway.
If the linoleum is scuffed, sweep it anyway.
If the tub is stained, scour it anyway.
If the sink is leaky, clean it anyway.
If the toilet needs fixed, scrub it anyway.
If the bedspread needs updated, make your bed anyway.
If the rug is frayed, straighten it anyway.
If the pillows are lumpy, fluff them anyway.
If the clothes are out-of-date, iron them anyway.
If the shoes are cheap, shine them anyway.
If the closet is too small, organize it anyway.
If the dishes are chipped, wash them anyway.
If the table is rickety, wipe it anyway.
If the kids are fussy, hug them anyway.
If the hubby is cranky, kiss him anyway.
If the neighbours are loud, wave at them anyway.
If the clerk is rude, smile at her anyway.
IF LIFE IS LESS THAN PERFECT... ENJOY IT ANYWAY!
We can live in Order without perfection; Peace without luxury, and Joy without convenience.
Life is what you make of it... so do it anyway.
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