The Enemy Of The Good

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." --Voltaire

I know that we often make the mistake of thinking that things have to be "perfect" to be seen as worthwhile or admirable. We may not know we are thinking along those lines, but subconsciously we really are.

I learned a lot about this last year when my dog suddenly became paralyzed…

so many things in our lives suffer because of this misperception…and one of the big ones is how we live in and enjoy (or more accurately DON'T enjoy) our homes.

Because it is the anniversary of Hermione's sudden onset of paralysis--and what a horrifically hard time I had with that last year at this time--I have been thinking a lot about the blog post I wrote in response. 

You can read it here. 

Hermione made a full recovery that was nothing short of miraculous--and we can, too, when we let go of limiting perfectionistic thinking and embrace our homes and lives that are truly so GOOD. 

My Story --How I 'Found Home'

Yep, that's me above--probably around age three. :) The house behind me was the first home I ever lived in, located in Joppatown, MD.  I lived in a total of four houses as I was growing up, and all of them had a lot in common--but the traits they shared may not be what you would expect. You see, while they were all "nice" middle class houses on the outside, the homes I lived in during my childhood were uncomfortable, cluttered places that never felt much like home at all. 

There were a lot of reasons for this and a lot of complicating factors, but something that sticks with me to this day is the memory of my mother constantly overwhelmed: overwhelmed by a lot of stuff, overwhelmed by the day-to-day tasks of maintaining a home, overwhelmed by feeling "less than" because her house was not something she felt proud of or comfortable in….

As I have written about before, when my mother passed away from a brain tumor (she was only 46 years old, I was 18) my step-father and I were left with a house bursting with STUFF, including a guest room piled so high with papers and other items, the door into the room would barely open. Her closet was filled with clothes still with tags on many of them-- awaiting a "special day" that never came.  

I started my adult life longing to create an inviting, comfortable, safe place to call home--without ever having learned how to do so during my formative years, and weighed down by the possessions of both of my parents' lifetimes. However, I have been able to create just such a thing for myself (you can read more about that here), and now I am so blessed to be able to do the same thing for my clients.

Next week my Love Your House Now Course gets underway. If lack of order around your house weighs on you, if you feel smothered by everyone else's (children's, parent's, husband's) possessions, if you wonder if you will ever be able to "get it together" and create an orderly, nurturing home, this course is just for you. 

I know a few things about you--I know that you are a loving, creative, devoted person, and you probably have tried many times to get things organized and pulled-together, but you aren't sure why none of it has ever really worked. You would love to feel proud of where you live, but you aren't sure at all how to make that happen. 

What I know most of all about you is that you deserve a lovely, nurturing house that reflects the kind, smart person that you are, and also supports the life you most want to live. I want you to know that achieving that is truly possible. 

If I could go back in time, I would give my mother and the young girl I was then so much love and understanding--and I would share with them that each day is worth celebrating. No more saving 'for good.'  Today is the day, and living in a home that lifts your heart and supports you and those you love with order and beauty is a way to live each day to the fullest.

Today is the day.  

If you would like more information about Love Your House Now Course, please write to me at: erin@revealingredesign.com. Don't delay! There are only a few more days to sign up!

A (Somewhat Reluctant) Return To Routine

I took this picture last year on the first day of school...

and I do think it is worth a thousand words, to say the least. 

This week, for many of us, it was time to shed the carefree ways of summer, and get back to the more structured days of school...and some of us were more happy about it than others. :)

Because of this change, each September is a good time for us to talk about our houses & our routines...

(Please don't roll your eyes at me...)

How do you feel about routines?? I know that to some, structure can seem like a straight jacket, but I want to invite you to look at regular routines as the groundwork for tons of fun and free time. 

After all, the sexiest of designs and prettiest of rooms can't be enjoyed if they are buried under dirty socks, piles of unopened mail, or stacks of soiled pots and pans--these are the kinds of things that aren't fun, but always need to be dealt with. HELLO, ROUTINES! 

Here are three of my favorite routines that take very little time, but can make a world of difference:

1. Make Your Bed Each Morning- This simple habit has actually been shown to increase your happiness. Pulling up the sheets and comforter as soon as your feet hit the floor takes less than 5 minutes.

2. Give Me 15-- Each day, right after everyone is off to school and work (and my kitchen looks like a box full of gremlins were let loose), I set a timer for 15 minutes, and quickly straighten and put away breakfast dishes, lunch-making items and and anything else that is out of place. Most days I even have time to empty the dishwasher and wipe down the counter before the buzzer goes off. Just fifteen minutes a day on a room that drives you nuts can be life-altering....

What room make sense for you and your house?

3. A Load a Day Keeps the Crazies Away-  Laundry can be so demoralizing, especially if on the floor is the heaping pile of clothes that needs to be washed, on the bed is the pile that has been washed and is waiting to be folded, and on the dresser is the basket with folded items that need to be put away. UGH-how overwhelming. 

The routine of completing one load of wash from start to finish every day can give you a sense of mastery, accomplishment, and peace.

In the morning, throw a load in before you leave for work. As you start dinner that evening, throw it in the dryer. As everyone goes up to bed at night, have them take their clean clothes up to their rooms and put them away.  You will be amazed at  how little time it takes, and how there isn't stuff just laying around in transition.
 

Do you have a favorite routine that keeps your household afloat? I would love to hear about it in the comments below! I always love to hear what works for you, and what makes a difference in your house, day-in and day-out!