Happy New Year!
I hope 2023 finds you well and ramping up your prosperity in this new year. For me, 2022 was a blur of activity and inner reflection of healing, self-discovery, and a quest to return to who I really am and who I am meant to be(come) — a slow, yet scenic ride.
Purposefully, I chose to spend significant time alone, building, rebuilding, and renewing friendships while working hard on myself. Some friendships and partnerships, unfortunately, needed to be left behind; others continue to be cultivated; and some were renewed and transformed into something brand new. I am truly grateful to the friends and extended (chosen) family who continue to be there for me and mine in my life journey.
Last year, I made a huge leap and chose to make a big change in my “day job” professional life and went back to a hybrid work environment. While it was absolutely the right decision for me after two years at home during the pandemic, I was forced to put some of my personal ambitions aside to focus on ramping up on my new responsibilities. Of course, many of my home-based office projects went to the back burner as I juggled the developing business, teaching, and a brand-new job.
However, late last fall, my intuition started to poke me: the time had come to pivot back to the outstanding to-do list at home. Once again, I started to dream in colorful patterns, fabrics, and texture. I longed to revitalize dark, empty spaces. To satisfy these divine downloads, I repainted two more bathrooms (master bath was revamped eight months ago), and recently started to refresh the paint in the upstairs bedrooms. I forgot how much joy and energy I receive (notice I did not say give), from design and renovation projects. This is just the restart I needed to complete the upgrades to my current home before my planned relocation to Fort Worth.
When I first purchased my home 15+ years ago, I was filled with hope, inspiration, and satisfaction every time I selected, implemented, and completed a space. I enjoyed this so much that I purchased a second (investment) home to upgrade, lease, and eventually sell at an incredible profit margin. It gave me such enjoyment. However, my then-partner was resentful of my constant need to upgrade, improve, and change up living spaces, so much so that I eventually fell out of love with it all.
Only recently did I realize this “need” was most likely truly part of my calling, my next phase of growth, and the resentment it garnished was not my problem (haters; hard left). While I haven’t yet pulled together the whole puzzle, I am picking up the pieces, starting with my own home — putting my renovation spirits back into gear. I’m figuring out how this undying need to create and recreate is also tied to a healthy balance of Work and Home coupled with my antique and artisan retail ambition. What will it all yield? I have no idea.
What I do know is that it’s going to take some elbow grease, patience, and a helluva lot of paint! (Currently, I’m wearing some in my hair as I write.) But what it doesn’t need is criticism or perfection. Trust I will make some mistakes along the way, but I will share them here with you so we can laugh and learn together! Why don’t you come along with me as I journey to the hardware store, the mill, discount outlets, and refurb shops, and work with my contractors to pull it altogether?
A new type of Home @ Work; prepping the living space to make room for comfort, productivity, and serenity; some DIY sprinkled with many PROs and a whole lot of CYA — that’s cover your assets (when painting). I’ll keep you posted as things unfold.
How did paint get there? Oh crap….
Ciao for now ~
Mia