Express Yourself

I used to be too concerned about what other people thought of me and my choices. I wasn't true to myself. Marry a man that doesn't care one lick what anybody thinks and it is bound to rub off on you. It's a good thing. Mostly. I'm a slow learner so it took me awhile to embrace my weirdness. Now though? I'm clutching it for dear life with no signs of letting go. Shouldn't my home express my true self? Recently a friend pointed out to me that not everyone has an aqua plate that matches the map hanging above their fireplace. He meant it in the good way. I think. Either way, I like that. I'm guessing they also might not have an aqua arrow that they fashioned from packing materials.

I'm a unique and quirky girl, a bundle of contradictions. I retain a childlike sense of wonder. I love lists, quiet, my family and friends and making people laugh. I'm passionate. I make up songs about random things. Life excites me. I love learning new things. I love music. I'm shy. And fearless. I love color, detail, books and pretty things. I'm kind of a handful. I like people and things that are genuine. I love people up with my cooking. I dream of writing a book, learning how to make croissants from scratch, running a 5k, taking pretty pictures, learning to play cello, designing fabric, selling things I make, learning a foreign language, being strong and traveling. Shouldn't my home reflect all that I am?

This place is a to-do list a mile long, work in progress, but it reflects so well the people that live here. I decorated my old house so that other people would like it. Except for my studio. In that one room I followed my heart and it was all me. A funny thing happened. It was our families favorite room. A kernel of truth started to form in my heart. I knew when we got settled in our next house, I would treat the entire thing like I had my studio. It felt like a risk, like I was exposing a secret part of myself.  The payoff was a happy, cozy home that gives us joy. I love when other people like it too but it isn't what's important to me.

Today I'm happy to have this cottage that is uniquely ours and thankful that I had enough sense to realize that it's a lot more fun to be yourself than to be what other people think you should be. Momma was right, just because everyone else is doing it, doesn't mean I have to do it.