reflections

I had the best Christmas I've ever had. I sure hope you did too! I think mine was so magical because, for the first time in my life, I wasn't hung up on presents and caught in the ebb and flow of anxiety, disappointment and over-joy all rolled into one.    And because it wasn't an emotional roller coaster, it just so happened I got the surprise of my life.. diamond studs 2.0 from my stud!  I was so moved by that grand gesture that I am looking at him with a new found wonderment and certainly brimming with love.

The holidays are so refreshing for so many reasons.  One of the things I look most forward to is spending time with my distant and somewhat aloof brother.  At least once a year I can take comfort [and joy] in his quiet and uplifting presence around the house.  I love him fiercely.  I feel protective of him like a mother tiger.  Odd, considering I compartmentalized most of his early years to an area far back in my brain that takes some searching to dig up.  Our six years difference barely feels like anything now.  Now, as I understand the importance of family and of the delicate balance and difference between of siblings.  The exact same makeup gone so differently in each direction.

He doesn't want.  At least not like I do.  He is content with how his life is.  He understands sacrifice.  And he embraces the imperfect when others would feel like digging their hands in their pockets, turning their toes inward and dropping their head down to hide.  He's not like me. He's a bigger thinker.  He's OK that it means that he lives modestly so long as he doesn't have to compromise his ideals.  I hate to think how that will inevitably and uncontrollably change the farther removed from college and the promotion of free-thinking he gets.  I hope he carries his spirit of ingenuity long after he's old and married.  It's people like him who change the world slowly.  And though his impact will most likely only greatly affect those closest to him, it will be one that leaves a very deep and scaring mark.  A nice one, not an ugly one.  Nothing about his nature is ugly.


If I've learned one thing from him this holiday it's 'to thine own self be true.'  I started reflecting on that for all aspects of my life and one of the best ways to do that is through creative expression.  It holds true for just about anything.  If you are doing 'you', there are no imitations and it comes through as authentic because IT IS.  So as I evolve in designing my spaces, they can't be wrong as long as they are 'me.'  Not phony.  Not trendy.  Just things I love.


So with that, I give you my living room 2.0 board.  (Another idea sprung from dear brother is to try to do a few design boards a week to get my ideas to gel and to understand what I like and don't like).  Still looking for that wall color idea.  But first up on the list is to take down the shade, replace with long neutral drapes and to paint my window sills dark navy.  This is a good start and feels a bit more relaxing without the 'white mint' paint on the walls.  

Any ideas on a suitable neutral wall color?


-Bethany