The Beauty You Keep Around You
What the objects you love say about you
"Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity."
—Simone Weil
If you were to take one minute to look around your home, what things do you notice that spark the most joy? What does this quick scan say about you?
Today, my list of joy-makers might look something like this (in no particular order):
The twinkly lights that wrap around our screened-in porch. I call them my mood elevator on a string. I love that they come with a remote control and that with a simple flick of a button you can change the color and increase or decrease the brightness. Every night as it gets dark, bling, on they go to lighten our lives no matter what time of year it is.
My mother’s old Singer sewing machine. You can still see [below] the words “I love you” that I secretly scratched into the base when I was about seven years old. Every time I pull out this ancient machine to sew a seam or mend a garment, I am awed by its beauty, its functionality (yes, it still works like a charm), and the love that it represents (my mother made all of my clothes when I was a child).
The three decorative birds made out of various forms of quartz that our Brazilian house painter surprise-gifted us. Every time I look at them I am reminded of the marvelous world we live in and the extraordinary generosity of a man we hardly know hauling these heavy beauties in his suitcase just for us.
…
And what does it say about me and my personal style?
It might say that I’m partial to things that are old, bold, colorful, purposeful, magical. Things made with love. Things that remind me of people I love. Things placed just so that the light can shine through them, or be easily picked up and touched.
Maybe you’re feeling that there are no sparks out there to be seen (yet) . . .
Yes, sometimes this exercise can take you places in your home and heart that aren’t so pretty or comfortable.
Sometimes you need to uncover what’s blocking your view. Sometimes you need to name your pain and feel (clear) it before you can finally rest on what you truly love.
Whatever shows up . . . or doesn’t . . . in the end, it’s all good.1
Ahhh 🤩
Tune in with us to tune up — A journey in sensing*
What you just read is from “Look Around,” Chapter 23 of my book A Year for You.
It is just a small taste of this 10-week series
where you get to tap the power of your six senses — sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing, and inner knowing to
release what is holding you back
remember what is calling you forward
It’s not too late to join us!
The additional commentary and photographs below (not included in the book) — with weekly nudges from me, full access to all content we’ve covered so far on this Journey to a Lighter You — is being made available to paid subscribers.
All for less than $1.15 a week.
Looking or seeing?
This week you have the opportunity to grow your seeing muscle.
What in your home catches your eye, captures your heart, and raises your energy level?
Here are some favorites of mine: