discover home:
Typically, our houses are places that hold our belongings. We live in them, but I find that most people don’t really love them. I’ve had love – hate relationships with my home for many years, and for many reasons: It was too small, it was too big, it needed too much maintenance, etc. But I believe home can become a love story; a place we rest, and really live, and celebrate. A place where important moments transpire, and we find a safety and a solace from the world around us. When home becomes a love story, you will see it reflected in obvious, and not-so-obvious places. Let’s chat…
Reflections…
When home becomes a love story, it becomes a reflection of the life we’ve lived. Things like treasures we’ve picked up during our travels, artwork that reminds us of special places we’ve visited, mementos reminding us of when our children were young; they all reflect a life we’ve lived and happy memories we’ve made.
But reflections can be so much more than that! Reflections can be familiar scents or culinary delights. Personally, we have a ‘signature scent’ candle I like to burn during the summer months. The first time I burned it was the day my daughter was getting ready for her junior prom. While the scent is 100% summer, the memory that comes with it goes so much deeper. It is a reflection of summer to us – it isn’t truly summer until we light that first candle – but it is also a reflection of home becoming a love story.
Personality…
When home becomes a love story, it reflects the personality of everyone who lives there. A home can be immaculate, styled to perfection, and ardently kept, and still not reflect the ones who live in it.
Our homes should represent those who live there. Everyone should be represented and feel welcome and comfortable in their own home, don’t you agree?
If a home’s style carries more importance than its comfort and livability, then it isn’t really, truly home. It’s simply a dwelling. Likewise, if the people who live in it cannot feel like they have a place to enjoy a cup of coffee, read quietly, or dance like nobody’s watching… then it’s simply a house, not actually a home.
When home becomes a love story, everyone’s personality has a place, and everyone feels welcome, and everyone feels like they belong there.
Intentions…
When home becomes a love story, we start to live with intention. Not just with good intentions, but with actual intention. We intentionally connect, intentionally respond, intentionally serve, and intentionally love.
When home becomes a love story, we listen with intention; we listen to understand not just respond.
We love with intention; not simply as an act, but as a sacrificial act; going beyond what is necessary, and seeing through to what is needed.
When home becomes a love story, we respond with intention; not simply to give the answer or solution to a problem or question, but to find out what lies underneath the question, and respond with kindness and gentleness and love.
When home becomes a love story, the moments of every day are lived with intention.
Intimacy…
When home becomes a love story, it isn’t just a place to drop a backpack, unload groceries, or do the laundry. It isn’t just a place to lay our head, or clean our dishes, or do our work.
When home becomes a love story, it transforms into the place where we want to be the most. It becomes the kitchen that nourishes our families, it becomes the chair where we read, the desk where we write our memoirs, the patio where we water our garden.
When home becomes a love story it contains all the little intimacies of life; the records we play, the goodies we bake, the books we read, the blanket we snuggle beneath. It becomes the whole story of all the moments carefully pieced together like a time-worn quilt that we stitched with loving hands.
And the most beautiful part to me is that home doesn’t have to be one specific place. It’s a feeling we create – and that means we can take it with us wherever we go!
xo, Billie
discover more:
- The Gift of Home Book [affiliate link]: https://amzn.to/4cC8bOH
- Create an Inviting Atmosphere in Your Home: https://forwardourmail.com/create-an-inviting-and-relaxing-atmosphere-in-your-home/
- Pro-Ject E1 Phono table: https://amzn.to/4mV5laV
- Don’t forget to visit our Amazon Storefront
